Breeze Airways Announces Service from GSP with Five Destinations, Including Los Angeles

Breeze Airways announced Jan. 23, 2024, the airline will begin new service at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in May, including flights to Los Angeles, CA.

“Breeze is thrilled to add Greenville-Spartanburg to our route map, as we connect cities without existing nonstop service,” said Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman.

Breeze will offer nonstop service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, CA, Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, CT, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) in Providence, RI, Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Orlando, FL, and Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Tampa, FL.

Breeze will be the eighth major airline to serve GSP, and will inaugurate the airport’s first nonstop service to Los Angeles, Hartford and Providence.  

“We applaud Breeze Airway’s decision to launch new service at GSP and particularly their plans to launch the Western Carolina region’s first and only nonstop flights to Los Angeles, Hartford and Providence/Boston. These markets have been among our most requested destinations and GSP is thrilled to make this new service a reality,” said Dave Edwards, president and CEO of Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District.

He added, “Our region has experienced a steady increase in the number of people from the Northeast and West Coast who have chosen to live and work in the Carolinas. Breeze’s new service significantly enhances our region’s accessibility, and we are confident that these flights will result in new investment in our business and tourism sectors.”

“Greater accessibility and air service connections benefit tourism, broader economic development, and our local residents' quality of life,” said Heath Dillard, president and CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC. “These five new direct GSP flights from Breeze Airways will propel economic growth and bring intangible benefits that help elevate the Greenville community and the entire Upstate region.”

Breeze will begin service at GSP on Mondays and Fridays starting May 3, 2024, using Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

Fares on the new routes start from $49 one-way, if purchased by Jan. 29, for travel by Sept. 3, 2024.

Special introductory fares to:

Los Angeles, CA from $139* one way. Service starting May 24.

Harford, CT from $69* one way. Service starting May 24.

Providence, RI from $79*one way. Service starting May 3.

Orlando, FL from $49* one way. Service starting May 24.

Tampa, FL from $49* one way. Service starting May 10.

(* Fare promotion is available only when booking a new reservation.  Promotion must be purchased by Jan. 29, 2024 (11:59 pm ET), for travel through Sept. 3, 2024. Price displayed includes taxes and government fees. Fare prices, rules, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice.)

Breeze Airways began service in May 2021 and has been ranked as one of the U.S.’ best domestic airlines for the last two years by Travel + Leisure magazine’s World's Best Awards (#2 in 2022 and #4 in 2023).

GSP is served by eight major airlines. In 2022, GSP was recognized by its customers and Airports Council International as the Best Airport of two to five million Passengers.

The airport is also a hub for air cargo, including flights regularly flown to and from Europe, Mexico, Asia, and points across the United States.

Earlier, Breeze announced it would fly from Charleston, South Carolina, to Los Angeles, with summer seasonal service, Fridays and Mondays, starting May 3. 

Flame Spray North America Expands Operations In Laurens County

Flame Spray North America, a thermal spray coatings manufacturer, said it is expanding its operations in Laurens County.

The company’s $2.5 million investment will create 40 jobs, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. 

Part of Flame Spray S.p.A., Flame Spray North America offers a portfolio of thermal spray coating and heat treatment services.

The company’s only North American facility, at 576 International Blvd. in Fountain Inn, primarily aims to serve the industrial gas turbine and aerospace market.

Commerce officials said the expansion includes the addition of advanced thermal spray coating technologies available for servicing industrial gas turbine components and technological improvements for the current facility.

Operations are already online. Those interested in joining the Flame Spray North America team should contact the company’s Human Resources Department ([email protected]). 

The state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

Performance, Construction Pipelines Remain Robust

Charleston’s multifamily market finished 2023 with stable net absorption and projects under construction, according to a ’23Q4 report by Colliers.

The full-service commercial real estate firm said that compared to the third quarter of 2023, net absorption decreased to 188 units, units under construction decreased to 6,616 units and average monthly asking rents decreased to $1,696.97.

The 6,616 units under construction are expected to deliver through the first quarter of 2025 with 30.53 percent of efforts being focused in the North Charleston submarket, followed by 21.69 percent focused in the Summerville/Goose Creek submarket.

Colliers said the decrease in average monthly asking rent can be attributed to the steady additions of supply experienced throughout all of 2023 while occupancy decreased slightly but remained healthy at 90.41 percent following the delivery of 764 units.

Blackbaud Announces Reauthorized, Expanded and Replenished $500M Stock Repurchase Program

Charleston, South Carolina-based Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the provider of software for powering social impact, said its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of the company's common stock.

Officials said the new stock repurchase authority significantly expands and replenishes the company's previous program that authorized the repurchase of up to $250 million in common stock.

"The expanded authorization of our stock repurchase program is reflective of our strong cash flow generation, our confidence in the business, and our continued commitment to enhancing shareholder value," said Tony Boor, chief financial officer, Blackbaud.

Boor added, "As we continue to execute against our capital deployment strategy, we're focused on growing the business through balance sheet management, rigorous oversight of investments in the business, and efficiently returning excess capital to shareholders."

Under the program, the company may repurchase shares of its common stock in the open market or through private transactions. 

During December 2023 and January 2024, prior to the replenishment on Jan. 17, 2024, the company repurchased $41.1 million of its stock under the stock repurchase program.

Between Jan. 18, 2024 and Jan. 19, 2024, the company repurchased $0.6 million. As of Jan. 19, 2024, the remaining amount available to purchase stock under the company's repurchase program was $499.4 million.

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