The Dane County Regional Airport had its inaugural flight on Breeze Airways to Raleigh-Durham International Airport on May 8.
This new seasonal route will take flight twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
“This inaugural flight is an exciting milestone for our community and a clear reflection of the strong demand for expanded air service in Dane County,” Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said in a statement. “Direct access to the Research Triangle strengthens economic ties, supports our growing business and academic sectors, and provides more convenient vacation options for our residents.”
The new route helps connect businesses — like the airport’s new Boston direct flight, which connects Madison businesses to another biotech-heavy region.
“This route is the result of strong community support for our local airport,” Mark Papko, executive director of the Dane County Regional Airport, said in a statement. “When travelers choose to fly local, it creates opportunities like this.
“We’re grateful to Breeze Airways for their continued investment in our community and their confidence in Madison’s growth. Their willingness to expand service here speaks volumes about the strength of this market. We’re proud to partner with Breeze to deliver another nonstop option that meets the needs of our passengers.”
The Raleigh flight expands Breeze Airways’ flights in Madison, adding to its existing nonstop service to Tampa, Orlando and Los Angeles.
In other good news for Madison’s airport, March 2026 represented the busiest March in the airport’s history.
According to the Transportation Security Administration numbers for March, 123,795 people were screened through security checkpoints.
“Our community continues to embrace Dane County Regional Airport, and I want to thank the TSA team who showed up every day and helped make this record-breaking March happen,” Agard said in a statement. “Keeping our airport moving supports local businesses and builds long-term prosperity for Dane County and the surrounding communities.”
The Dane Country Regional Airport set an all-time passenger record in 2025 and continues to meet and break records.
According to a recent report on the economic impact of the airport, itgenerates$2.6 billion in economic activity and supports thousands of jobs across Dane County.
Amidst all the records and economic milestones, the airport has embarked on a new master plan, led by Papko, and the first one since 1993.
As reported by In Business Madison earlier this year, the plan expects to be an ambitious endeavor as it aims to meet the city’s growing population demands.
