DAYTONA BEACH − Avelo Airlines began offering flights to various destinations at Daytona Beach International Airport in June 2023. Breeze Airways is set to begin service here Thursday. Both describe themselves as “ultra low-cost carriers.”
Here’s a look at what that means as well as how Avelo and Breeze differ.
Both promote super-low air fares compared with major airlines, such as Delta and American, and it’s true that they do.
However, both are no-frills budget airlines that make up for the cheap air fares by charging fees for “extras” that passengers generally don’t have to pay for on major airlines.
Avelo, whose name rhymes (sort of) with “hello,” is a Houston-based budget airline that commenced operations in April 2021, led by Andrew Levy, the former chief operations officer for Allegiant Air. It is the successor to Casino Express Airlines, which began service in 1989 and changed its name to Xtra Airlines in 2005.
While it does offer direct flights to some major markets, such as Orlando, Chicago and Washington, D.C., Avelo tends to focus on serving secondary markets within a short drive of big cities. For example, Avelo offers nonstop service at Daytona Beach International Airport to the “Philly” area, but its flights on that route actually land at the airport in Wilmington, Delaware, which is roughly a 30-minute drive to the City of Brotherly Love.
Breeze is a Cottonwood Heights, Utah-based budget airline that was founded in May 2021 by JetBlue co-founder David Neeleman (he also co-founded Morris Air, WestJet and Azul Linhas Aereas). Like Avelo, it specializes in serving secondary markets, as opposed to flying directly to major cities. Instead of flying to New York City, for example, Breeze offers nonstop flights to White Plains, New York (Westchester County), which is just over an hour-drive north of the Big Apple.
Avelo allows passengers to bring one personal item (such as a purse, briefcase or small backpack) on to a flight for no additional charge, but charges an extra fee for carry-on bags and checked suitcases. Passengers are also charged extra if they want to pick their seat and/or if they want more leg room.
Avelo recommends that passengers bring their own non-alcoholic drinks and snacks and to make sure their electronic devices such as smart phones or tablets have been charged beforehand with favorite shows preloaded. “There will be no Wi-Fi or charging options during the flight,” according to the airline’s website.
Breeze follows a slightly different model where passengers get to pick between a “no flex fare” which is the cheapest, no-frills option, to options that escalate in price and offer more perks, accordingly: its “nice bundle,” its “nicer bundle,” and its “nicest bundle.”
Each option allows one personal item on board for no additional charge, but the “no flex fare” requires passengers to pay extra for a carry-on bag.
One checked bag is allowed for no extra fee if you pick a “nicer” or “nicest” bundle option.
Breeze charges extra for inflight WiFi and inflight snacks and drinks for its cheaper options, while its more expensive options include those perks for no additional fee.
Breeze also offers a loyalty program where passengers can earn “BreezePoints” that can result in additional discounts on future trips.
Avelo currently offers twice-weekly nonstop flights at Daytona Beach International Airport to New Haven, Connecticut, as well as to Wilmington, Delaware/Philadelphia, on Sundays and Thursdays. On Mondays and Fridays, it offers nonstop flights to Hartford, Connecticut.
For information, visit aveloair.com.
Starting Thursday, Breeze will offer twice-weekly nonstop flights to White Plains, New York (Westchester County), on Thursdays and Sundays.
Beginning Feb. 13, 2025, Breeze will also offer twice-weekly nonstop flights to Hartford, Connecticut, and to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, on Thursdays and Sundays, and starting the next day it will launch twice-weekly nonstop service to Providence, Rhode Island, on Mondays and Fridays.
A ribbon-cutting event takes place Thursday at 3 p.m. on the second level of the main passenger terminal at Daytona Beach International Airport to celebrate the launch of Breeze’s service to the Volusia County-run airport. The inaugural incoming flight from White Plains is scheduled to arrive at 4:14 p.m.
For details, visit flybreeze.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Cheap flights at Daytona Beach Airport thanks to Avelo, Breeze
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