GREEN, Ohio – Northeast Ohio travelers planning a Caribbean getaway in the new year have another flight option to consider.
Breeze Airways announced last month that it would begin flying internationally to three Caribbean destinations from six U.S. airports in early 2026.
The Akron-Canton Airport – which claims Breeze as its largest carrier – was not one of the six. Indeed, the small Summit County airport doesn’t have a customs facility that can accommodate commercial flights.
Even so, Akron-Canton travelers soon will be able to fly to Cancun on Breeze via a connection in Norfolk, Virginia. The route from Norfolk launches Jan. 10 and will run weekly, on Saturdays.
However, the connection from CAK will require a four-plus-hour layover in Virginia.
The Norfolk-to-Cancun flight is one of six new international routes that Breeze is introducing in 2026. The others:
· Charleston, S.C., to Cancun, starting Jan. 17.
· New Orleans to Cancun, starting Feb. 7.
· Providence, R.I., to Cancun, starting Feb. 14.
· Raleigh-Durham, N.C., to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, starting in March.
· Tampa to Montego Bay starting in February.
Ryne Williams, a spokesman for Breeze, said the airline has no immediate plans to further connect Akron-Canton to Caribbean destinations. “But I would add that CAK continues to be a great market for Breeze and we’re always looking for more opportunities,” he said.
Akron-Canton operates a small Customs and Border Protection facility for general aviation only – not commercial aircraft. Lisa Dalpiaz, vice president of air service and business development for the airport, said the airport’s long-term master plan includes the addition of a larger customs facility.
However, she noted, “These facilities are extremely costly to build and as other airports across the country are experiencing, staffing CBP agents presents another challenge.”
In the meantime, she added, “We remain eager for connection opportunities that Breeze may provide through their network.”
Breeze flies to 15 destinations from Akron-Canton, including several new cities that are launching this fall. Among the new destinations: Daytona Beach, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Wilmington, N.C.