Charleston Connects With Fort Myers and Many Other Cities as Breeze Builds a Bigger Pittsburgh Network

Image Credit: Airbus 2026

Charleston Connects With Fort Myers and Many Other Cities as Breeze Builds a Bigger Pittsburgh Network because the airline is expanding nonstop options across the wider Pittsburgh region while also preparing new service from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Charleston and Fort Myers are part of Breeze’s broader Pittsburgh International network, while Many Other Cities include domestic and international destinations that strengthen leisure connectivity. As Breeze Builds a Bigger Pittsburgh Network, travellers gain more direct choices, easier access to holiday markets and greater flexibility between Pittsburgh International and Latrobe. The expansion matters because Breeze is combining a large metropolitan airport with a smaller regional gateway, creating more convenient travel options for passengers across western Pennsylvania.

How Is Breeze Expanding Across the Pittsburgh Region?

Breeze is growing through two distinct airport strategies.

At Pittsburgh International, the airline has built a much larger route portfolio. Its network includes Charleston, Fort Myers, Greenville, Hartford, Jacksonville, Louisville, Myrtle Beach, New Orleans, Norfolk, Portland, Providence, Raleigh-Durham, Tampa, Vero Beach, Cancún and Punta Cana. The addition of Vero Beach, Cancún and Punta Cana took Breeze’s Pittsburgh network to 18 nonstop destinations at the time of announcement.

At Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, the strategy is more targeted. Breeze is set to launch Myrtle Beach in February 2027 and Orlando in May 2027.

That creates a useful contrast for travellers. Pittsburgh International delivers breadth, including domestic and international routes, while Latrobe offers a smaller-airport experience focused on high-demand leisure markets.

Why Does Arnold Palmer Regional Matter for Travellers?

Arnold Palmer Regional gives travellers in Westmoreland County and eastern parts of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area an alternative to driving farther west to Pittsburgh International.

The airport promotes several convenience advantages, including free long-term parking, a compact terminal, one-level access, short walking distances and on-site rental cars. It says passengers can walk about 280 steps from the parking area to the terminal entrance.

Those features can be particularly attractive for families, older travellers and holidaymakers carrying luggage.

The airport also has an established commercial passenger base. FAA figures show 76,437 passenger enplanements in 2024, compared with 76,925 in 2023.

For regional travellers, the key advantage is choice: a smaller gateway for selected leisure routes alongside the much larger PIT network.

What New Travel Opportunities Do Myrtle Beach and Orlando Create?

The two new Latrobe routes are heavily leisure-oriented.

Myrtle Beach gives western Pennsylvania travellers a direct link to South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, a market known for beaches, golf, resorts and family holidays. Orlando, meanwhile, provides access to central Florida’s large theme-park and entertainment market.

These routes fit Breeze’s point-to-point model, which connects underserved or secondary airports with destinations where nonstop service can save travellers both time and a connection.

The travel angle is especially strong because passengers living east of Pittsburgh may be able to reduce ground travel before flying.

The routes can also help inbound tourism. Visitors arriving at Latrobe gain easier access to Westmoreland County, the Laurel Highlands and several major regional attractions before continuing to Pittsburgh if they wish.

How Much Has Arnold Palmer Regional Invested in Its Future?

The airport has undergone significant infrastructure investment ahead of renewed commercial service.

Its recent terminal expansion cost $28 million and increased the facility to 32,000 square feet. The terminal can accommodate up to 500 passengers and includes multiple TSA screening lanes, a larger gate area, a passenger lounge, family facilities, a nursing room and a pet-relief area.

Arnold Palmer Regional also has an 8,222-foot runway, an important asset for airline operations.

Federal funding has supplemented the airport’s local investment. The FAA previously supported an $11.1 million runway-widening project and later provided $1.2 million for rehabilitation of the air traffic control tower.

These investments strengthen the airport’s ability to support commercial aviation over the longer term.

How Does the Breeze Network Benefit Leisure Travellers?

The strongest travel benefit is the range of nonstop options now available across the wider Pittsburgh market.

Travellers can use Pittsburgh International for cities such as Charleston, Fort Myers, Greenville and Hartford, as well as leisure destinations including Tampa, Myrtle Beach, Vero Beach and New Orleans. Internationally, Breeze has also scheduled Cancún and Punta Cana.

Arnold Palmer Regional adds another layer with direct Orlando and Myrtle Beach service.

This creates more flexibility for holiday planning. Some travellers may choose PIT because of the larger schedule and broader network. Others may prefer LBE because of its smaller terminal, free parking and proximity to communities east of Pittsburgh.

The result is not a competition in which one airport replaces the other. Instead, Breeze is giving travellers different airport experiences depending on route, location and convenience.

At Pittsburgh International, Breeze already serves or has scheduled service to destinations including:

• Charleston;
• Fort Myers;
• Greenville;
• Hartford;
• Jacksonville;
• Louisville;
• Myrtle Beach;
• New Orleans;
• Norfolk;
• Portland, Maine;
• Providence;
• Raleigh-Durham;
• Tampa;
• Vero Beach;
• Cancún;
• Punta Cana.

That means Breeze is developing a two-airport strategy in the wider Pittsburgh market: a broader network at PIT and targeted leisure service at LBE.

What Could This Mean for Tourism in Westmoreland County?

The new service can support tourism in both directions.

Outbound passengers gain direct holiday routes, while inbound passengers can use Latrobe as a gateway to western Pennsylvania attractions.

Official airport information highlights the wider region’s tourism potential, including:

• the Laurel Highlands;
• Fallingwater;
• Fort Ligonier;
• Idlewild & SoakZone;
• golf destinations;
• seasonal outdoor recreation.

That can make Arnold Palmer Regional more than just a departure point.

For visitors coming from Florida or South Carolina, the airport provides a convenient entrance into a region known for heritage, landscapes and outdoor travel.

It also gives travellers the option of combining a Laurel Highlands trip with Pittsburgh, which is within road-travel distance.

Improved air access can therefore help hotels, restaurants, attractions and local tourism businesses benefit from increased visitor movement.

Why Does Breeze’s Two-Airport Strategy Matter?

The wider significance is that Breeze is using two airports to serve different types of demand.

Pittsburgh International is the primary metropolitan gateway, with a much larger terminal and an extensive mix of domestic and international routes. Arnold Palmer Regional is smaller, more localised and focused on selected leisure markets.

For travellers, that segmentation can be useful.

Someone heading to Cancún or Hartford will naturally use PIT. A Westmoreland County resident travelling to Orlando may find LBE more convenient.

This is a rational network approach because it broadens catchment without requiring every route to operate from the same airport.

It also allows Breeze to test different market types across the Pittsburgh region while giving passengers more options in how they begin and end a trip.

How does LBE compare with Pittsburgh International?

The two airports serve different roles.

Arnold Palmer Regional is not replacing Pittsburgh International. It is offering a more convenient alternative for selected routes and selected travellers.

Comment From Anup Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travel And Tour World

“Breeze Airways’ growing presence across the Pittsburgh region can make leisure travel more flexible for passengers by combining a broad network at Pittsburgh International with selected nonstop routes from Arnold Palmer Regional. That is especially valuable for travellers who live east of the city and may prefer a smaller airport with shorter walking distances and free parking. The tourism opportunity also runs both ways, because better air links can make Westmoreland County and the Laurel Highlands easier to reach. As travellers increasingly prioritise convenience, direct connectivity and simpler airport experiences, this kind of two-airport strategy can support both outbound holidays and regional visitor growth.”

Conclusion: Why Does This Expansion Matter for Travel?

Charleston Connects With Fort Myers, Greenville, Hartford and Many Other Cities as Breeze Expands Pittsburgh-Area Travel Options because the airline is building a network that combines the scale of Pittsburgh International with the convenience of Arnold Palmer Regional.

The cause is growing demand for direct, point-to-point leisure travel. The answer is a two-airport strategy that gives passengers more route and airport choice. Breeze already serves or has scheduled a wide range of destinations from PIT, while Latrobe will add Myrtle Beach in February 2027 and Orlando in May.

For travellers, the result is straightforward: more nonstop options, stronger access to leisure destinations and greater flexibility in deciding how to travel across the wider Pittsburgh region.

Image Credit: Airbus 2026