New Investments in the Region of Campinas - Talk 2 Brazil Interview with David Neeleman, CEO Azul Airlines

Aug. 31:David Neeleman, founder of AZUL Airlines in Brazil talked about the company, it´s rapid growth in Brazil and especially the impact on the region of Campinas where Azul centers operations at the Viracopos airport.

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David Neeleman

Chairman, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras

David Neeleman started his fourth airline, Azul, in his second home, Brazil.

David was born in Sao Paulo, while his father was Bureau Chief there for Reuters, before moving to Utah as a child. A dual citizen, he has returned to Brazil many times throughout his life and is very excited about the prospect of changing the way Brazilians travel, giving access to air travel for many who have never had the opportunity.

As Chairman of the new airline, he has ordered 76 brand-new Embraer 195 jets which will be equipped with 118 comfortable ultraleather seats in a 2 by 2 configuration and will be the first in Latin America to offer LiveTV, inflight TV programming via satellite. Azul commenced service in January 2009.

Prior to Azul, David founded JetBlue Airways in New York and spent the last decade as Chief Executive Officer (1998 to 2007) and Chairman (2002 to 2008). An amazing success by any measure, JetBlue was an instant hit with travelers and was the first airline to earn $100 million annually within five years, thus becoming a major airline fastest. In the last year, JetBlue was ranked Top Low Cost Airline for Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates and Best Airline by Consumer Reports. It has won Conde Nast Travelers Readers Choice Awards for Best U.S. Airline for the last seven years.

David’ career began in 1984 when he co-founded a low-fare carrier called Morris Air with June Morris, the owner of Salt Lake City-based travel agency Morris Travel. As President of Morris Air, David implemented the industrys first electronic ticketing system and pioneered a home reservation system where calls are handled by reservationists working from their homes.

Following the sale of Morris Air and a short period with Southwest Airlines, David took the electronic ticketing system that he had initiated at Morris Air and developed it into Open Skies, the worlds simplest airline reservation system. David sold Open Skies to Hewlett Packard in 1999. Also during this period, David acted as a consultant to WestJet Airlines, the successful Canadian low-fare start-up airline.

Having already enjoyed a unique career in aviation, David is excited to invest his lifetimes experience from Morris, Southwest, Open Skies, WestJet, and JetBlue into creating the best airline Brazil has ever seen.

David currently splits his time between Brazil and New Canaan, Connecticut, where he lives with his wife Vicki. They have nine children.

Azul Airlines

Brazil's Newest Airline Kicks Off with New Routes, Focus on Safety and Comfort

By Patricia Ribeiro, About.com

Azul - Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras enters the Brazil air travel market offering competitive fares, heightened safety features, in-flight details for greater comfort and point-to-point service where no such option existed before.

Brazil-born Azul founder and Chairman David Neeleman (founder of Morris Air and JetBlue) said, during the unveiling of the company's corporate identity in May 2008, that the brightly colorful, pixelized map in the logo represents the company's intention to serve and integrate Brazil. Azul fares and features should be attractive enough to lure passengers away not only from other airlines, but from bus travel as well.

How the Name was Chosen

The company launched a contest to choose the name. Over 150,000 votes were cast in two phases before the two finalists were picked.

Although the other finalist - Samba - had a slight winning margin, a board of executives chose Azul (Blue). The first people to vote for both names have won free Azul lifetime passes.

First Flights

Azul launched its first flights - Campinas-Salvador and Campinas-Porto Alegre - on December 15, 2008. By the end of December, eight daily flights connecting Campinas and Salvador and ten daily Campinas-Porto Alegre flights were available.

On January 14, 2009, Azul will start flying Vitória-Curitiba and Vitória-Porto Alegre.

Azul's goal is to be serving 25 cities in Brazil by 2012, with a fleet of 42 Brazil-made Embraer E-195 jets.

The Azul Fleet and Services

Azul starts 2009 with five aircraft - Embraer 190, with 106 seats, and Embraer 195, with 118 seats. The company plans to receive a new airplane a month and close 2009 with 15 E-jets. In five years, the expected fleet growth should bring that number to 78 aircraft.

Aircraft and service bonuses include:

· Heightened safety thanks to dual Head Up Displays (HUDs). HUDs display data on a crystal surface at eye level, allowing both pilots to manage information without looking away from the usual viewpoint

· Two rows of window and aisles seats (no middle seats)

· 76 centimeters between seats, allowing for more leg room

· Espaço Azul - 16 seats separated by 86 centimeters, for an additional R$30

· A video screen for each seat, with open and satellite TV

· Several kinds of free snacks and drinks available in the in-flight service (no carts).