How I Built This with Guy Raz JetBlue Airways: David Neeleman (2019)
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May 31, 2021 David Neeleman, the innovative founder of JetBlue Airways and Azul, shares his entrepreneurial journey, marked by a passion for customer service and a commitment to revolutionizing air travel. He discusses launching JetBlue with a vision for budget-friendly flights to underserved cities and high-tech amenities. Neeleman candidly reflects on the challenges he faced, including a major crisis during the 2007 ice storm and how it led to transformative changes in customer care, along with his ongoing ventures in aviation.
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Early Business Failure
- David Neeleman's college business boomed, reaching $6 million annually by packaging flights and hotels.
- However, it collapsed when the airline he partnered with ceased operations, leaving him with substantial debt.
Morris Air
- After his business failed, Neeleman worked for his father-in-law's drapery business and his grandfather's grocery store.
- He then joined Morris Air, a travel agency run by June Morris, where he revived his packaged travel business.
Transition to Airline
- Morris Air transitioned from a travel agency to an airline after Steve Udvar-Hazy suggested Neeleman obtain an airline certificate.
- They leased planes and initially bootstrapped the operation, focusing on direct flights to popular destinations.
