New Breeze Airways eyes flights from Sikorsky
BRIDGEPORT — The new commercial airline Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration tried to bring to Sikorsky Memorial Airport in 2019 was, as of a month ago, still interested.
In an April 8 letter supporting U. S. Rep. Jim Himes’ request for $ 2.2 million in federal dollars for upgrades at Sikorsky, Eric Fletcher, Breeze Airway’s director of legal and community affairs, made it clear the Utah- based company has had its eye on the Bridgeportowned, Stratford- based facility.
Fletcher wrote, “Our business strategy ... is to focus on new nonstop flights and lower fairs at smaller cities such as Bridgeport ( and) routes ignored by other larger airlines.
“We expect our business plan could support new service and improved economic development opportunities at a number of cities in Connecticut, including Bridgeport,” Fletcher wrote.
The statement came with a caveat: while Breeze wants to “further pursue its evaluation” of Sikorsky, federally- required improvements there remain “a critical element in our ability to provide new service.
“The current facility restraints at the airport preclude us from start
ing that service,” Fletcher wrote.
Hearst Connecticut Media obtained a copy of the letter following Thursday’s news that New Haven’s Tweed Airport would undertake a $100 million project to lengthen its runway, erect a new terminal and offer Avelo commercial flights.
Ganim’s office in a statement Thursday after Tweed’s announcement said “private investment is also anticipated in Bridgeport (and) the city is pleased about moving forward with our own current plans which would include new 150-passenger planes that can utilize the existing runway at Sikorsky.”
Ganim did not at that time mention Breeze, though mayoral aide Danny Roach and Himes in separate interviews Friday openly discussed the airline’s consideration of Sikorsky.
“We’ve always been excited about Breeze’s interest in Sikorsky,” Roach said. “We know they’ve done an extensive market analysis.”
“We can't confirm or deny any destination airports as yet,” New Canaan resident David Neeleman of Breeze, the man behind
JetBlue, said in an email Friday.
In 2019, Hearst reported Bridgeport was courting a new endeavor at Sikorsky, but would not identify the company. Other sources identified Neeleman’s company, dubbed Moxy at that time, as the interested business.
But a deal between the city and the air company apparently fell through two years ago because of the need for around $20 million worth of Federal Aviation Administration-required infrastructure upgrades at Sikorsky, including the rehabilitation of one of its two runways, officials at the time said.
“In order to initiate passenger service we need to be fully complaint,” Roach said at the time.
This past March, the Associated Press reported that the federal government had given Breeze one year to begin flights and that the company “has agreed to buy 60 Airbus 220-300 planes, which hold 130 to 160 passengers.”
Meanwhile Himes confirmed Friday that he recently applied to Congress for $2.2 million “which will provide a security fence, which is one of the many things Sikorsky needs to be open for commercial service.” He said the letter from Fletcher was one of several submitted to prove “substantial community support.”
Himes said the FAA would then pay “the balance” of the Sikorsky improvements with Breeze’s investment likely being a terminal.
The state of Connecticut has pledged to spend $7 million on Sikorsky if that amount is matched by private investment.
“Breeze was clear they wanted a commitment on the part of the state and federal government,” Himes said. “And now I’ve requested this ($2.2 million) ... now is the time for them to come to the table in a real way, I hope.”
Because of Bridgeport’s deal with neighboring Stratford, where Sikorsky is located, not to extend the airport’s runways, Himes emphasized that Breeze’s jets can take off and land on the existing lengths and that the technology is quiet. There has been opposition over the years to adding more flights out of Sikorsky by neighbors in the Lordship neighborhood.
Himes said he did not think the deal announced Thursday between Tweed and Avelo would diminish Breeze’s interest in Sikorsky.
“Breeze had no interest in going into Tweed and a strong interest in going into Sikorsky,” Himes said. And, he added, since the Tweed project was touted as not requiring any public investment, that frees up Connecticut and the federal government to aid Sikorsky.
But, Himes emphasized, he would really like to see Breeze commit.
“As a former business guy, I’ve been cautious about that,” Himes said. “Until Breeze signs on the dotted line, they’re just an interested party.”