Community-Driven Effort Aims to Bring Breeze Airways to State College Regional Airport

Strategic Insights -

Business leaders in Centre County are rallying behind a community-driven pledge campaign to bring low-cost carrier Breeze Airways to State College Regional Airport. The proposed direct flights to Orlando would be a significant boost to regional air service, which was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pledge campaign, launched by the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, aims to demonstrate to Breeze Airways the demand for new air service.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau have launched a community-driven pledge campaign to bring Breeze Airways to State College Regional Airport.
  • The proposed direct flights to Orlando would be a significant boost to regional air service, which was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The pledge campaign aims to demonstrate to Breeze Airways the demand for new air service, with over 1,100 responses to an online pledge submitted so far.
  • The community's support for the effort includes pledges for nearly 3,000 flights annually, with residents, students, and businesses participating in the campaign by submitting non-binding pledges.
  • Breeze Airways, a rapidly growing low-cost carrier, would fill a gap in service at the airport, with proposed flights to Orlando beginning this fall.
  • The addition of Breeze Airways is being recognized as both a travel improvement and an economic development catalyst for the region.
  • According to Ralph Stewart, interim executive director of the Centre County Airport Authority, Breeze Airlines is a company with great leadership and the right size aircraft for the market.
  • Improved air connectivity is critical to the region's long-term economic planning, with bringing in and maintaining air service at State College Regional Airport being a clearly defined objective.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,100 responses have been submitted to an online pledge supporting the effort to bring Breeze Airways to State College Regional Airport.
  • Nearly 3,000 flights are pledged annually, demonstrating community support for the proposed direct flights to Orlando.
  • Breeze Airways would fill a gap in service at the airport, with proposed flights to Orlando beginning this fall.

Sources:

  • Jocelyn Bilker, the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau have launched a community-driven pledge campaign to bring Breeze Airways to State College Regional Airport.
  • The Centre County Airport Authority
  • The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County