Tuesday, October 1, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This WeekOGDENSBURG – Those heading south for the winter can fly directly from Ogdensburg to Orlando, Fla. starting in February.
Breeze Airways will offer the direct flights for $89 one way on Thursdays and Sundays from Feb. 13 through April 27.
The flights will depart from the city at 11:55 a.m. and arrive at 3:30 p.m.Orlando, Fla.
Charlie Garrelts, Ogdensburg International Airport Manager, said the new flights were welcomed news for those seeking warmer weather in the winter months.
“Say hello to new horizons,” Garrelts said in a prepared statement. “Breeze Airways is connecting Ogdensburg to the vibrant warmth of Orlando—your gateway to sunshine and smiles starts here.”
Breeze officials were pleased to share the news as well.
“Breeze is less than a week old in Ogdensburg and yet we’re announcing another new route today,” David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ Founder and CEO said in a prepared statement. “Now in addition to daily service to the nation’s capital, Ogdensburg Guests can also make a convenient and affordable winter getaway to Orlando for just $89* one way.”
Garrelts said as a promotion to celebrate the new flight options in Ogdensburg travelers can visit the airport in person on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to save 1/3 the cost of total ticket.
New York State Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has helped secure funding to expand the airport, said ensuring air service in Ogdensburg is crucial for St. Lawrence County.
"After flying its inaugural flight out of Ogdensburg to DC this past weekend, these new connections to sunny Orlando will help the North Country economy take off even further and provide our families with more destinations to warmer climates during the cold winter months. I fought to secure an increase in funding for the Essential Air Service program in this year’s FAA bill because I know how important it is for our smaller communities to stay connected to a key hub and the national travel network, and I’m grateful that the program helped Breeze land in St. Lawrence County making this expansion possible. The sky is the limit for Breeze and Ogdensburg,” Schumer said in a prepared statement.
The Airbus A220-300 aircraft flights allow for three levels of seating and fare bundles feature options for bags, seats, and inflight WiFi. The airline doesn’t charge change or cancellation fees up to 60 minutes prior to departure and offers other benefits such as free family seating and a la carte pricing.
Breeze, which was recently ranked in the top five of Travel + Leisure’s “Best Domestic Airlines” for the third year in a row, began selling service from just 16 cities in May 2021.
The airline is also offering flights to Dulles airport in Washington D.C. be purchased for $49.
The flights leave from the city at around 5 p.m. daily. The flight is roughly 1.5 hours .
Passengers also soon have the option of flying from Dulles to other destinations including Provo, Utah, South Bend Indiana and Vero Beach Florida, but with the current schedule, doing so would require an overnight stay in D.C.
While the new flight options from Ogdensburg are welcomed, Breeze Airways currently lacks interline connections, which is a concern for some travelers.
The lack of interline agreements puts a bigger burden on passengers looking for connecting flights. They can’t book them with a single purchase and they must recheck their luggage. While experienced flyers may not be bothered by that, it can be a hassle for those who have little knowledge of air travel.
Locally, community members have also raised concerns about the flights being in the afternoon, which can make it difficult to make connections.
Although it still remains a concern, OBPA leaders say they believe Breeze is still addressing the matter and hopes to hear good news on that front by the end of the year.
