SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Breeze Airways has started its year-round, nonstop service from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) to Tampa, Florida (TPA).
The inaugural flight departed from Syracuse on Saturday evening, Nov. 19, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced.
The inaugural inbound flight from Tampa arrived around 7:40 p.m. and the inaugural outbound flight departed just before 9 p.m. The nonstop route is scheduled to operate on Saturdays and select Wednesdays, transporting travelers to Tampa in under three hours.
“Breeze is excited to continue expanding our service from SYR, allowing Syracuse–area guests to have more affordable travel options locally,” Tom Doxey, president of Breeze Airways, said in a statement. “This new nonstop route to Tampa offers our guests a great option to head south this winter.”
The Breeze flights to TPA increase the Syracuse airport’s existing nonstop service to the Tampa area. Breeze Airways will use its new Airbus A220 and Embraer E-195 aircraft on this new nonstop route.
“We’re excited to see our partner Breeze expand their footprint here at SYR,” Jason Terreri, executive director of SRAA, said. “This year-round service to [TPA] provides a convenient — and efficient — means of traveling to the Tampa Bay area not only for leisure seekers, but business travelers as well.”
The Syracuse airport treated passengers and crew to a party at Gate 12 of the airport to mark the occasion — an event that included balloons, cookies, a decorative cake, and giveaways, the SRAA said.