David Neeleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Neeleman
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Neeleman in 2015
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| Born | October 16, 1959 São Paulo, Brazil
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| Occupation | Chairman of Azul Brazilian Airlines CEO of Breeze Airways |
| Known for | Commercial airline entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) |
Vicki Vranes
(m. 1980; div. 2013) |
| Children | 9 |
| Relatives | Zach Wilson (nephew) Hannah Neeleman (daughter-in-law) |
David Gary Neeleman, born on October 16, 1959, is a successful businessman from Brazil and the United States. He is famous for starting five different airlines. These include Morris Air, WestJet, JetBlue Airways, Azul Brazilian Airlines, and Breeze Airways. He also had a share in TAP Air Portugal, a major airline. In 2017, he also became a citizen of Cyprus.
Contents
Early Life and Background
David Neeleman was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He lived there until he was five years old. After that, he grew up in Sandy, Utah, in the United States.
His grandfather, John Neeleman, was born in Utah. His family came from the Netherlands. John Neeleman owned several convenience stores.
Neeleman's Career in Airlines
David Neeleman has had a very busy career. He has created many companies, especially in the airline industry.
Starting Morris Air
In 1984, David Neeleman helped start Morris Air. This airline offered flights at low prices. He was a top leader there for several years.
In 1993, a bigger airline called Southwest Airlines bought Morris Air. David Neeleman then worked for Southwest Airlines for a short time.
New Ventures and JetBlue
After leaving Southwest, David Neeleman became the CEO of Open Skies. This company made special computer systems for booking flights. It was later bought by Hewlett-Packard.
Around the same time, he helped create two new airlines. One was WestJet. The other was NewAir, which later became JetBlue.
Leading JetBlue Airways
David Neeleman was the CEO of JetBlue Airways. He was known for caring about his employees. In 2002, he gave his entire salary to a special fund. This fund helped JetBlue employees who were having a tough time.
In 2007, David Neeleman stepped down as CEO of JetBlue. He also left his role as chairman of the board in 2008.
Founding Azul Brazilian Airlines
On March 27, 2008, David Neeleman announced plans for a new airline. He called it Azul, which means "blue" in Portuguese. This airline flies within Brazil. By 2013, Azul had become Brazil's largest airline.
Other Business Ideas
In 2013, David Neeleman and his younger brother, Mark James Neeleman, started a new company. It was called Vigzul. This company provides home security and monitoring services. David Neeleman is the chairman of its board.
In 2015, David Neeleman also became involved with TAP Air Portugal. He and another businessman, Humberto Pedrosa, bought a large part of the airline. They promised to keep Portugal as a main hub for the airline. In 2020, the Portuguese government bought back a larger share of TAP Air Portugal.
Launching Breeze Airways
In 2018, David Neeleman announced plans for another new airline in the United States. It is called Breeze Airways. He raised a lot of money to start this airline. Breeze Airways ordered many new planes to begin flying in 2021.
COVID-19 Discussions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, David Neeleman shared his thoughts on COVID-19 lockdowns. In 2020, he helped fund a study about the virus in California. The study was led by a professor who also had concerns about lockdowns. Some people wondered if this funding created a conflict of interest.
Personal Life and Family
David Neeleman is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When he was 19, he spent two years in Brazil as a missionary.
He has been diagnosed with ADHD. He has 10 children with his former wife, Vicki Vranes. They are now divorced.
His brother, Stephen Neeleman, is a surgeon. He helped start a healthcare company called HealthEquity. David Neeleman's nephew, Zach Wilson, is a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. His son, Daniel Neeleman, and daughter-in-law, Hannah Neeleman, are known for their social media account, Ballerina Farm.
In 2005, David Neeleman received the Tony Jannus Award. This award recognized his important work in the airline industry. He speaks fluent Portuguese. He holds citizenships in Brazil, the U.S., and Cyprus.
See also
In Spanish: David Neeleman para niños
