When Breeze Airways commenced operations in 2021, one of its first major airports it operated from was Tampa International Airport in South Florida. From there and several other airports, it has spread like an octopus across the United States, connecting less frequently-served cities (e.g. Bangor, Maine) with major airports (e.g. TPA and MCO in Florida), becoming a serious contender in the low-cost market in less than half a decade. A few months ago, when I posted the Breeze MCO-BGR trip report, someone suggested I fly back down to Florida from Bangor, but this time to Tampa. I don’t know why it took me this long to do such a relatively short flight, but I finally got around to it today.
Server: Solo
Airline: Breeze Airways
Aircraft: Airbus A220-300
Origin: Bangor International Airport, Bangor, Maine (BGR)
Destination: Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Florida (TPA)
Flight Number: MX175
Route: KBGR-KTPA
Seat: 3F (Breeze Ascent)
Time En Route: 3 Hours 35 Minutes
Getting ready to board in the evening at Bangor. Breeze is one of two airlines serving the Tampa Bay area from BGR, with Allegiant Air flying between the second-busiest airport in Maine and Saint Pete-Clearwater Airport on the west side of Tampa Bay.
Single-engine taxi this evening as we make our way to the runway for takeoff. We’re in the Breeze Ascent seating, the airline’s first class equivalent, or as close to first class as a low-cost carrier can do while still remaining one. The seats seem nice enough from the outset, roughly comparable to United’s domestic first class seating on its 737NG and A320 family.
Taking off for Tampa! Those weirdly-shaped parking areas below us are the Cold War-era “Christmas Tree” alert pads, built to accommodate Strategic Air Command B-52G Stratofortresses and KC-135A Stratotankers, back when BGR was Dow Air Force Base. From 1960 to 1968, nuclear-armed bombers and fully-fueled tankers stood by on 24/7 alert, ready to scramble at a moment’s notice. When the Air Force closed Dow in 1968 and handed most of the base over to the city of Bangor, what little was left over became the Bangor Air National Guard Base, from which the 101st Air Refueling Wing of the Maine Air National Guard operates the KC-135R to this day.
Cruising along the coast of South Jersey. We got some snacks and a Coke when the in-flight food and beverage service began. Not bad, considering we’re only flying for 3 and a half hours or so.
Somewhere over a cloudy South Carolina at 36,000 feet
Final descent near MacDill Air Force Base, yet another KC-135 base. Breeze Ascent has been an enjoyable experience, surprisingly enjoyable for a low-cost, short-haul carrier.
Landing on Runway 01L late at night
Taxiing over to the C Gates. Besides Southwest Airlines, Breeze is the principal occupant of Airside C.
Parked at our gate shortly before deplaning
Off our aircraft at Gate C44, with the Tampa Airport Marriott in the background, where we’ll be staying tonight
