Summary
- David Neeleman, the CEO of Breeze Airways, has successfully launched five airlines.
- Neeleman's career spans multiple ventures, including Morris Air, WestJet, JetBlue, Azul, and now Breeze Airways.
- Despite his success, Neeleman remains grounded and dedicated to important causes, such as advocating for individuals with ADHD and dyslexia and supporting his employees during difficult times.
A living legend of aviation, David Neeleman co-founded US low-cost carrier Breeze Airways and has served as its CEO throughout its existence. However, Neeleman stands out among all other airline founders within the industry and isn't just like any other CEO.
The challenges of starting an airline are no match for Neeleman. Overcoming the daunting regulatory environment, rigorous market competition, and the difficulties of garnering funding from the venture capital industry seems to be a 'breeze' for this executive's seasoned expertise.
Neeleman has successfully launched an airline five different times. Additionally, he owned an astonishing 45% share of Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal. What the industry's most successful leaders have managed to do just once, Neeleman does on a routine basis. In this article, we will take a closer look at the life and achievements of Breeze's CEO, David Neeleman.
Personal life
Neeleman was born in Brazil, where he lived for the first five years of his life before moving to Sandy, Utah. His grandfather, the son of Dutch immigrants, was originally from the state where he owned and operated a chain of nine convenience stores.
Neeleman also has some well-known relatives. New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is Neeleman's nephew, and JetBlue, a carrier that Neeleman founded, remains one of the Jets' primary corporate sponsors. The CEO has been a strong advocate for those who suffer from ADHD and Dyslexia. In a recent interview with Forbes, the entrepreneur, who was first diagnosed with ADHD in 2002, shared how the condition has impacted his life.
Career
Neeleman's first venture into commercial aviation came in 1984 when he co-founded Morris Air, a Salt Lake City-based low-cost charter carrier. As executive vice president in 1988, Neeleman oversaw the sale of his airline to Southwest Airlines for $130 million, of which he was able to pocket $25 million. At the time, the entrepreneur was only 29 years of age.
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His next project took him to the digital space, where he eventually became CEO of a software company called Open Skies, which helped passengers manage reservations. The company was later acquired by tech giant Hewlett-Packard (HP).
Next, Neeleman would return to the commercial aviation industry, founding Canadian airline WestJet just before the turn of the century. Eventually, the entrepreneur would launch his biggest project yet with JetBlue, which he was the CEO of from 2002 until 2007. Famously, Neeleman donated his entire salary as CEO to a fund for his employees who had fallen upon hard times during his first year in the position.
But Neeleman's entrepreneurship story wasn't nearly over. In 2008, his next venture, Brazilian carrier Azul, would first take to the skies. To this day, Neeleman remains the chair of the company's board of directors.
Since 2010
While Neeleman's career before 2010 was undoubtedly incredible, his list of achievements has continued to grow. In 2015, the entrepreneur partnered with businessman Humberto Pedrosa to take 61% control of Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal. The Portuguese government has since repurchased a majority stake in the company.
Neeleman's latest project is American low-cost carrier Breeze Airways, which he launched in 2018, raising $100 million in capital entirely on his own. As per an interview given to Travel + Leisure, the entrepreneur considers Breeze to be among his most ambitious undertakings due to the complex market environments created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Neeleman's net worth is estimated to be more than $400 million.