Breeze Airways in May makes two big shifts in its flying from Northwest Arkansas National Airport.
The good news is that the airline is doubling its weekly flights from XNA to Orlando International Airport.
Breeze trips to Orlando, which won’t even start until Friday this week, will occur every Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday, starting May 18. Its twice-a-week flying until then.
But Breeze also plans in May to pause its nonstop flying to Phoenix Sky Harbor. It’s expected to return as seasonal service next fall or winter.
While the airline made no public announcement of the changes, the Breeze website reflects them.
Phoenix service
Breeze announced last fall that would add nonstop service to Orlando and Phoenix. Within days, American Airlines announced it would fly nonstop from XNA to Phoenix, one of the airline’s hubs.
With Allegiant Air already providing seasonal flights to the nearby Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, it appeared Northwest Arkansas travelers would benefit from all three airlines competing to take them to Phoenix’s largest metro.
Instead, XNA will end up with a three-way, 83-day competition. It began when American and Breeze started flying to Phoenix Sky Harbor in February. It ends May 11, the day of Allegiant’s last seasonal flight to Phoenix-Mesa.
Orlando change
Northwest Arkansas travelers will see a significant increase in options to Orlando.
Four days after Breeze starts going to the hometown of Walt Disney World, Allegiant Air will increase its Orlando trips from two to four. The Allegiant flights depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Allegiant Air first started flying from XNA to Orlando-Sanford International Airport in 2009, and it became Allegiant’s third nonstop destination from XNA. It’s remained twice-a-week trips for Allegiant with occasional increases in March, to accommodate spring break travelers, and in the summertime.
With Breeze and Allegiant offering a combined eight trips a week to Orlando, XNA has never had so many flights to the Florida city.
