AIRPORT VOICE, JUNE 2019 17
Moxie, the airline, and the Man
JetBlue founder Neeleman talks at JFK
BY JEFF YAPALATER
Moxie. The code word for the new
U.S. airline being created by David
Neeleman. It also describes the
character of the man who founded
JetBlue; a man with nerve, determination
or in other words, Moxie.
Now, Neeleman is at is again as
the industry disrupter with his new
airline made to be a U.S. based, super
regional airline. He spoke at the
JFK Airport Chamber of Commerce
luncheon to a record breaking crowd
of over 500 interested aviation people
who jammed the large banquet
space at the newly opened TWA Hotel
at the JFK Airport. Neeleman’s
success with JetBlue, his Brazilian
Azul airline, rebuilding TAP airline
and his news for another industry
disrupting airline drew supporters
and admirer’s to listen to his words
of business success.
Neeleman discussed a few different
topics from his successful Brazilian
Azul Airline, his purchase of
Portugal’s TAP Airline, and the new
Moxie U.S. airline. Speaking of Azul,
Neeleman shared some insight into
why he felt it was a good investment.
He said that only a modest number
of Brazilians flew, attributing this to
the high cost and lack of enterprise.
Through his analysis of the large
potential market and implementation
of a network strategy, Azul is
now a successful airline with a high
degree of industry satisfaction and
serving a much needed network of
103 cities in Brazil.
When the TAP airline takeover
was presented to him, the Portuguese
government held the largest
stake but due to regulations and
other issues, the airline could just
not be profitable. Enter Neeleman,
who with his success formula from
JetBlue and Azul, this airline is
now privatized and flourishing with
growing destinations.
While Azul is Brazil based, Neeleman
eyes international growth
and envisions Azul flying out of JFK
within a year. He does note however,
that there are no open airport slots.
Neeleman contends that there needs
to be slots available for direct international
flights that are economically
beneficial to the JFK airport
and the NYC. During his presentation
Neeleman recounted the logistical
obstacles that JetBlue faced 20
years ago at JFK which he seemed
hopeful he would not encounter
again. Neeleman did affirm his belief
that he would find a way to have
service out of JFK, negotiating with
Port, FAA and buying slots from
other airlines if necessary, if that
proved worthwhile for his new airline.
As if managing Azul and TAP
airlines was not enough, the call for
another challenge was undeniable.
Neeleman and his team are now
hard at work to get Moxie off the
ground.
The airline opportunity he sees
is the lack of non-stop service to
smaller communities in the U.S.
Je said that travelers have to go
through major airport hubs because
there are “lot of markets out there
that larger jets can’t and won’t land
in smaller airports. There are a of
communities left out” . So he and
his team decided their “job is to fly
where no one flies non-stop. We will
go there 2x as fast and probably at
half the price,” he said.
Neeleman calls this airline a
Tech company that happens to fly
airplanes. A key disrupting factor
in this new venture will be the technology
fueling it. It will be a App
driven enterprise with every aspect
of it controlled through a device.
Neeleman points our the landscape
of online ordering that is pervasive
and intends to makeup better use of
it with his new company.
The choice of an aircraft is hitech
as well with new Airbus A220
which is made in Canada. He loves
this plane because is it can use
shorter runways, has long 4K range
and it is comfortable having a good
first class for business.The first aircraft
will be delivered in 2021 when
the airline is expected to go wheels
up in the U.S.
Neeleman’s deliberate, success
driven strategy and focus on needed
services will create a unique U.S.
airline dedicated to an ever increasing
flying public. He is committed to
taking care of his people with regular
interactions and constant dialogue
withhis employees. With this
attitude, compelling personality
and business focus this airline creation
should be a Breeze.
Perhaps the new name?? Breeze
Airways?
JFK T4 launches AIRA access
Unique service for blind travelers
JFK’s Terminal 4 recently announced
it is the first airport terminal
in the New York City area
to launch Aira Access. The innovative
service will provide passengers
who are blind or have low
vision with instant access to enhanced
visual information and
real-time service to navigate Terminal
4 and have a stress-free airport
experience.
Through Aira Access, passengers
can use a smartphone app to
connect with an agent, who uses
the video stream from the phone’s
camera, GPS, and other web data
to provide visual descriptions on
demand. Aira Access enables people
who are blind or have low vision
to freely and confidently move
through crowds, avoid obstacles
and arrive at their desired locations
on time. Passengers can also
use Aira Access to check flight status,
find gates and luggage, use selfservice
kiosks, navigate through
TSA checkpoints, and locate restaurants
and retail services.
With 10 million people who are
blind or low vision in the US, it is
becoming increasingly important
for airport authorities to provide
access to visual information for
passengers who can benefit from it.
T4 joins the more than 30 airports
across the country and around the
world that have deployed Aira Access
for travelers. Aira Access is
also available in sports venues,
public buildings, and leading retailers.
32BJ protests paid sick
leave inequities
Affects from
the government
shutdown in early
2019 still impact
some workers at
JFK Airport.
There are allegations
that
some JFK Airport
workers were
forced in March to
use up paid sick
leave time that
they accrued in
2018. New York
City law clearly
authorizes workers
to carry over
unused sick time.
In the beginning
of March
2019, Airport Service
contractor
Eulen America
told employees
they must use up
all paid sick leave
time that they accrued
in 2018.
“Use it or lose it,”
workers were told.
ARIA user getting help from convenient
kiosk.
Eulen workers announced at NYC Hall that they filed complaints
with the city Department of Consumer and Worker
Protection (DCWP).