Breeze Airways launches a new nonstop route from Atlantic City to Tampa
Low-cost carrier Breeze Airways continues to expand its footprint at Atlantic City International Airport. On Tuesday, the company announced the launch of nonstop flights from the New Jersey airport to Tampa, Florida, adding to its previously announced southern destinations. The route network expansion will begin this spring and ramp up throughout the summer.
The new nonstop flight will be another option for passengers looking to reach the Gulf Coast without connections and long drives to major hubs.
Schedule and fares for flights to Florida
Nonstop Atlantic City–Tampa flights will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting July 1. Fares start at $79 one-way per person. Breeze announced the route at the same time as more than a dozen other nonstop flights nationwide.
For Atlantic City Airport passengers accustomed to a limited choice of destinations, the addition of another nonstop route to the South is a notable development.
Spring and summer additions from Atlantic City
The nonstop flight to Tampa is part of Breeze’s major expansion of its flight schedule from the New Jersey airport. The company previously announced two other destinations:
- Atlantic City–Charleston (South Carolina): flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting May 6.
- Atlantic City–Raleigh-Durham (North Carolina): flights on Thursdays and Sundays starting June 11.
All three destinations create a southern cluster of routes from the airport, aimed at travelers from the Jersey Shore.
Don’t confuse the one-stop Tampa flight with the nonstop route
An important detail that’s easy to miss: in addition to the nonstop flight starting July 1, Breeze is also launching a Tampa service with an intermediate stop. This option starts earlier, on June 11, and will operate on Thursdays and Sundays. In effect, passengers will have a choice between two versions of the same route with different schedules and start dates.
How the new flight could affect tourism in Atlantic City
With the launch of the new flight, Atlantic City is counting not only on the return of tourists from the coast, but also on an influx of visitors interested in visiting casinos. Atlantic City is often called the “Las Vegas of the East,” but in recent years the situation for the city has become more challenging due to the growing popularity of online casinos.
Tourists from other countries, for example from Mexico or Canada, have become less likely to visit the city specifically to gamble. At the same time, another trend is emerging. According to information from the authors of a website about the best online casinos in Canada, available if you click here, traffic in the iGaming industry is growing. Players choose this option because of its convenience, generous bonuses, and the variety of games offered. This has been an indirect factor in why Canadians have become less likely to visit brick-and-mortar casinos in the United States.
However, brick-and-mortar casinos are still popular with Americans, since online casinos are legal in only a handful of states. The main problem remains accessibility, so an increase in the number of flights to Atlantic City could be a catalyst for improving the situation in the gambling sector.
Time savings as a strategy
Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman commented on the network expansion in an official statement: “Adding new cities and routes will give even more travelers the opportunity to save valuable hours that would otherwise be spent connecting through hubs or driving.” Neeleman emphasized that the company’s mission remains the same: affordable fares on routes that have traditionally been underserved.
The Utah-based carrier that turned a profit for the first time
Breeze Airways, founded in 2021 and based in Utah, remains privately held and is not required to disclose financial statements. Nevertheless, last year the airline reported its first profit, recorded in Q4 2024, when revenue exceeded $200 million. Today, the carrier operates more than 300 routes, including seasonal ones, in 86 cities across the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
David Neeleman is known as a serial airline founder. His track record includes the creation of four carriers, the most recognizable of which is JetBlue.
Atlantic City Airport and its limited roster of carriers
Breeze remains one of the few major carriers operating around a dozen flights a day from Atlantic City (the exact number varies by season). Last year, Allegiant Air joined the lineup of carriers. Spirit Airlines, by contrast, cut its schedule and in 2024 decided to close its crew base at the airport. American Airlines uses an unusual arrangement: passengers go through security screening in Atlantic City and then transfer to a bus to Philadelphia International Airport, where they then fly out on the company’s flights.