David Neeleman quotes

David Neeleman is a visionary entrepreneur in the airline industry, known for his innovative ideas and customer-centric approach. As the founder of four successful airlines, including JetBlue Airways and Azul Brazilian Airlines, Neeleman has revolutionized the way people travel. With a deep understanding of consumer needs, he has consistently emphasized exceptional service and affordable fares. Born in Brazil, Neeleman's career began with the launch of Morris Air, which he later sold to Southwest Airlines. This enabled him to create his flagship carrier, JetBlue, which gained popularity for its in-flight entertainment systems, spacious seating, and high-quality service. With Neeleman at the helm, JetBlue quickly became a leading low-cost carrier in the United States, catering to millions of travelers every year. Neeleman's passion for aviation continued with the founding of Azul Brazilian Airlines, where he aimed to bring affordable and convenient air travel to the Brazilian market. Azul quickly grew into one of the largest airlines in Brazil, offering a vast network of domestic and international routes. As a testament to his success, Neeleman has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to the industry. In addition to his current ventures, Neeleman is now working on launching Breeze Airways, a new start-up that aims to redefine the concept of customer service in the airline industry. Leveraging his experience and expertise, Neeleman is set to disrupt the status quo once again. David Neeleman's entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with his dedication to excellence, has made him a prominent figure in the aviation landscape. Through his innovative ideas and commitment to customer satisfaction, Neeleman continues to shape the future of the airline industry. With his latest venture, Breeze Airways, travelers can expect a new level of convenience, comfort, and affordability. David Neeleman truly epitomizes the art of creating airlines that prioritize the needs of their passengers.

I actually thrive on all the challenges, and I don't feel like ADD has impaired my ability.

- David Neeleman

I'm always crunching numbers, so my calculator watch is a must.

- David Neeleman

It's so important to experience what your customers are experiencing and listen to their suggestions.

- David Neeleman

Seat assignment didn't matter if you're flying Dallas to Houston and you did it 38 times a day. People just got on, you didn't sit next to your wife, and it was a 45-minute flight. It didn't matter.

- David Neeleman

Just keep thinking about the good side of ADD - the creativity and the originality it can stimulate.

- David Neeleman

I believe the public's confidence would be increased if the federal government took over the functions of airport security screening for all passengers.

- David Neeleman

We are just interested in dealing with the people we're paying every day. We know federal law allows them to vote in a union at anytime, but we think we can resist that by talking to our own people and giving them enough upside.

- David Neeleman

We're reviewing everything to see how we can do it better, faster, and more efficiently.

- David Neeleman

This is not a business where you can hand off and run by remote control.

- David Neeleman

We tried to set up a company that patterned ourselves after Southwest in all the fun, the spirit, the great people, the smile, the efficiency side of it, but we've added some extras that people aren't used to finding on Southwest.

- David Neeleman

And, of course, customers really need to feel safe and are seeking reassurance when they fly.

- David Neeleman

A lot of airlines have come and gone.

- David Neeleman

We don't want a third party who may or may not have our best interests in mind or our crew members' best interests in mind because they may be serving a union of one of our competitors. They are trying to equalize us and take away our competitive advantage.

- David Neeleman

I think they got caught up in how much money they could get from each of the city governments as far as tax rebates. But that stuff works when you make money. It's a little bit phantom money.

- David Neeleman

I also really like getting to know our crew members better.

- David Neeleman

Our people get profit-sharing checks. I got a report the other day that says that 84 percent of our people participate in our stock purchase program, where they can buy stock at a 15 percent discount.

- David Neeleman

And you've got to remember that I'm also the father of nine children.

- David Neeleman

What you can't buy is the loyalty that comes through our dedicated crewmembers.

- David Neeleman

People were desperately trying to fill their seats for the summer. And so prices are really low right now. And so they are kept from raising prices to make up for that difference.

- David Neeleman

Certainly, we are hurt by the high fuel prices because it raises our cost.

- David Neeleman

Of course, we should all be aware of what we're packing in our carry-on luggage - anything that might be considered dangerous could be confiscated at a security checkpoint.

- David Neeleman

I really see low-fare carriers, quality low-fare carriers anyway, continuing to become more and more popular.

- David Neeleman

Be it $15 million here and $11 million there, it takes hundreds of millions to be successful in this business.

- David Neeleman

Value will always be on top of everyone's lists now, right along with safety.

- David Neeleman