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

Meaning of the quote

When people travel by plane, they want to feel safe and secure. They are looking for reassurance that everything will be okay during their flight. The businessman David Neeleman understands this and knows that making customers feel comfortable and safe is very important for airlines.

About David Neeleman

David Neeleman is a Brazilian-American businessman who has founded five commercial airlines, including JetBlue Airways and Azul Brazilian Airlines. He also owned a stake in TAP Air Portugal and recently became a citizen of Cyprus.

More about the author

More quotes from 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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

A lot of airlines have come and gone.

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

The Blackberry is really essential for keeping up on my emails when I’m out of the office, which is a lot.

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

David Neeleman

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur

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

Brazilian-American aviation entrepreneur