Breeze Airways Making T.F. Green Airport Its Base Of Operations

WARWICK, RI — Breeze Airways will set up its base of operations at T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick, Gov. Dan McKee and Breeze President Tom Doxey said in a joint news conference Tuesday.

The airline will use Rhode Island's largest airport as a base of operations, beginning in 2023. McKee said this will create 250 full-time jobs in the Ocean State, including pilots, flight crews, support staff and maintenance workers, needed to sustain up to 20 nonstop routes.

"Today's announcement continues our state's economic momentum,"McKee said. "Establishing a base of operations at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport not only creates more good-paying jobs, but also supports our tourism efforts by bringing in new tourists and visitors to our great state, which in turn supports our economy. I want to thank Breeze for choosing Rhode Island. We stand ready to ensure this is a success."

Over a 5-year ramp-up period, Breeze Airways will base six to eight planes at T.F. Green, most of which will be the Airbus A-220, a new aircraft with industry-leading fuel efficiency, Doxey said.

Doxey said Breeze will also grow from having eight routes at the airport to 20 or more within the next five years.

"Since launching here a year ago, the community, the airport and the state of Rhode Island have fully embraced Breeze, making it one of our fastest growing cities,"Doxey said. "The ease and convenience of flying from PVD perfectly encapsulates our ‘Seriously Nice’ approach to air travel, and we’re thrilled to expand our services from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in the coming years."

A base is an airport where an airline's planes operate from that location. Airlines conduct regular maintenance checks and repairs at their bases. Bases are also locations where flight crews reside, which increase the potential for additional flight options for customers.

State officials said Rhode Island benefits not only from the creation of up to 250 jobs, but also will receive economic and tax revenue benefits generated by more routes, increased tourism related employment and revenue, expanded options for business and leisure travel as well as increased state hotel tax revenue.