Jet Blue founder at Columbia

Jan 23, 2007

David Neeleman, the JetBlue founder and CEO spoke here on how JetBlue built a unique brand in a challenged marketplace, how it revolutionized the air travel experience, and the path ahead.

This is a legendary guy. Co-founded Morris Air, sold to Southwest, almost succeeded the Southwest founder but left for being too aggresive to fit in, founded Open Skies, sold to HP, and now JetBlue, another homerun. Suffering Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder, he talks in a greatly funny way, about himself, JetBlue, competitors, ...

I left my voice recorder at home. What a pity.

Something from his speech.

"Why sacrifice comfort of 80% (passengers) for (first class which is occupied only) the 30% (time)?"
- explaining why move out first class of flights.

There is an airline hates its customer so much that they charge for everything on the plane ... ultimately everybody boards for free but need to pay for check-in package, food, beverage ... (to avoid discriminating) one dollar! everybody! for wheel chair of that guy!..
- introducing an innovative competitor

Do you want an empty seat next to you? 50 dollars! ...
- selling middle seats which are empty anyway to window seat passengers