Breeze airways launched its inaugural nonstop flight from West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Thursday morning, marking the return of direct service to New York for the first time in over a decade. Despite rainy weather, the flight took off with eager passengers, signaling a major milestone for the airport and the local community.
Breeze Airways continues growth in West Virginia
The flight, MX216, departed at 09:25 from Yeager Airport and was a highly anticipated event for many in the region, according to the data on FlightAware. The Airbus A220-300, a twinjet aircraft, took off five minutes ahead of schedule and was expected to arrive at Gate B44 at Newark Liberty International Airport at 10:55 local time, providing passengers with a quick and convenient route to New York City.
Breeze Airways CEO David Neeleman said in a statement:
“We’re excited to continue our growth from CRW today,” said Neeleman. “Now with four destinations from here, we’re continuing to connect the dots between underserved city pairs, giving travelers more options to fly affordably and comfortably to over 60 destinations across 30 states on more than 200 nonstop flights.”
Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock
Employees at CRW celebrated the historic flight with a gate party, handing out snacks and goodie bags to passengers as they prepared to board. The inaugural flight to Newark marks the first direct connection between Charleston and New York in more than 11 years, a significant development for the area’s air travel options.
Excitement among local travelers
CRW Chief Marketing Officer Paige Withrow confirmed with West Virginia’s Metro News that the inaugural flight received positive feedback, with many passengers expressing enthusiasm for the new route. Breeze has already added additional flights and will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Photo: christopheronglv | Shutterstock
Jonathan Adkins, a West Virginia native now living in Washington, D.C., was one of the passengers onboard. Adkins, who had traveled to Charleston to visit family, told Metro News that he was excited to reunite with relatives and be part of the inaugural flight.
“I’m actually going up and back, I’m such a travel and aviation geek that I just wanted to be on the first flights, but more happy honestly just to be in Charleston and to do some fun things with some family,” said Adkins.
Photo: West Virginia International Yeager Airport – CRW
“The addition of nonstop service to New York-Newark marks a significant milestone for our Airport and community,” said Dominique Ranieri, CEO & Airport Director of West Virginia International Yeager Airport. “This flight connects West Virginia and the Northeast, fostering new opportunities for tourism and business growth in our region.”
About the aircraft
The airplane is an Airbus A220-300 registered under N217BZ. The aircraft, which has 125 economy and 12 premium seats, was launched on March 11, 2022, according to AirFleets.net. Breeze Airways also said that the plane has high-speed WiFi onboard.
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Breeze Airways, which began service at CRW in March 2023, has steadily expanded its regional presence. In addition to Newark, the airline offers weekly flights to Orlando and seasonal flights to Myrtle Beach and Tampa.
