The smallest state in the continental U.S. is now the epicenter of an intense airline rivalry

Connecticut, the third-smallest state by area, has unexpectedly become the focus of a new airline turf battle in the country.

Leading this competition for runway space in Connecticut are the U.S. airline industry's two newest entrants: Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways.

Recently, Avelo grabbed attention by announcing its inaugural service from Hartford's Bradley International Airport (BDL), the largest airport in the Nutmeg State, set to begin this fall.

These new routes are significant for several reasons.

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This marked Avelo's inaugural step into international markets, with new routes from Hartford featuring nonstop flights to Cancun, Mexico, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, set to launch in November.

By adding Hartford to its network, Avelo expanded its presence in Connecticut, moving beyond Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN), a small airport roughly an hour from Hartford, where Avelo is the sole airline and has focused much of its Northeast expansion.

Avelo executives believe that adding service from Hartford is a strategic decision, reinforcing the airline's rapid expansion in Connecticut while also enabling access to BDL's international arrival facilities.

"This isn't a significant departure from our current strategy," said Trevor Yealy, Avelo's head of commercial, in a recent interview with TPG. "We have an incredible customer base in and around New Haven and throughout Connecticut."

However, Hartford is also where the rival newcomer Breeze has announced its ambitious plans to quickly increase flights, including future international routes from the airport.

This situation alone may not lead to an all-out, Avelo-Breeze competition.

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Airlines are significantly increasing their flight offerings to and from Hartford: This winter (from October to April), there will be a 20% increase in available seats compared to last year, as reported by aviation analytics firm Cirium. Leading the charge are United Airlines with a 40% increase, JetBlue with 35%, and American Airlines with 20%.

However, the situation took an intriguing turn.

The New Haven Battle

On August 13, Breeze announced its own expansion in Connecticut, confirming its entry into New Haven and becoming only the second airline at an airport that had seen years without regular commercial service.

As a result, Breeze will directly compete with Avelo on over six routes connecting New Haven to the Southeast.

What do the airlines have to say?

"We’re simply going to concentrate on our operations and what we can manage... The presence of another airline in New Haven won’t change that," stated Avelo's Yealy, highlighting the carrier's over 30 nonstop destinations from the airport.

Breeze, on the other hand, asserts that its New Haven expansion aligns perfectly with its Northeast-focused growth strategy.

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"Providence serves as a major hub. Hartford is solid. We’ve established a good service network in Westchester, and Stewart launched earlier this year and is performing well," said Lukas Johnson, Breeze's chief commercial officer, regarding the airline's presence in the area, including at the two New York state airports.

From Breeze's perspective, New Haven is still a market that has plenty of potential for increased service.

"This area is densely populated and highly concentrated," Johnson noted.

However, he quickly emphasized the differences in offerings between Breeze, which provides a variety of seat and ticket options, and Avelo, which follows a more standard ultra-low-cost model.

"The two models are quite distinct," Johnson explained. "We feature premium seating and a first-class section, along with Wi-Fi, streaming services, complimentary snacks and drinks... and we also have a loyalty program and a credit card, making our approach a bit unique."

Is there a frequent flyer program with Avelo?

Avelo highlights its impressive operational reliability as a strong point and confirms that it will introduce a frequent flyer program in the future — though the specifics are still under consideration.

"We talk about it regularly," Yealy mentioned.

"Everyone in the airline sector today has credit cards and loyalty programs," he stated. "We want to ensure we carefully consider 'What does the future of airline loyalty look like?' rather than just following the crowd with what others are doing now."

That said, Avelo has teamed up with Capital One. New cardholders of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can receive up to $200 in statement credits when they open the card and book a flight with Avelo within the first year. They will also enjoy priority boarding with Avelo for that year.

Additionally, all new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles by spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account. The card comes with a $95 annual fee.

New England is thriving with new flight options

While Connecticut has recently become a focal point in the rise of America’s two newest airlines, it was almost certain that Breeze and Avelo would eventually intersect.

Both airlines are prioritizing services from "secondary airports" in major urban areas.

Avelo's recent growth in Lakeland, Florida — nestled between Orlando and Tampa — and its new base in California's wine country are prime examples.

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"Many people look at these smaller routes and wonder, 'Is that really going to succeed?'" Yealy remarked. "And what we discover is that there's significant interest in many of these cities throughout the nation."

Key Takeaway

The growth of Breeze and Avelo coincides with a period where many U.S. airlines are reevaluating their route strategies in response to rising domestic capacity that has driven fares down — much to the pleasure of travelers and the frustration of airlines.

As they revise their route strategies, several airlines are strengthening their presence in the Northeast. JetBlue, for example, has increased its capacity in New England, adding flights from smaller cities and enhancing its focus on its established Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) hub.

Throughout the region, the overall number of available seats on commercial flights from New England is expected to rise by 15% compared to last year, according to Cirium. In Connecticut alone, this increase will be a notable 25% year over year.

This includes new nonstop routes Avelo recently introduced from its New Haven hub to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), along with increased service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airline has also extended its East Coast schedule for bookings through April 2025.