Tuesday, May 06, 2008

David Neeleman's new Brazilian airline to be named 'Azul'

David NeelemanDavid Neeleman announced today that his start-up airline in Brazil will be called Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras, SA -- Azul for short. Azul is the Portuguese word for blue. What a coincidence: Prior to beginning work to organize the new Brazilian carrier, Neeleman was the founder and former CEO of Jet Blue Airways in the U.S.

"Azul is a metaphor for security, serenity, loyalty, and quality -- as well as connoting flight, as the color of the sky. But we want our company to define the name, not have the name define our company," said Mr. Neeleman.

Plans for the new airline were announced in March of this year. Azul will begin operating as a domestic carrier in Brazil in January of 2009. The airline, which will be headquartered in São Paulo, will operate a fleet of Embraer 195 aircraft. Each aircraft will carry 118 passengers in a two-by-two configuration.

The new airline is seeking applicants: Click here.

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