Skift Take
U.S. airline consumers hate to admit it — they love bashing airlines, after all — but the competitive environment is strong right now, and considering rising fuel prices, fares are decent. But if there's a new entrant into the marketplace, like David Neeleman's proposed new carrier, things could get even better for customers.
When an entrepreneur plans to start a new U.S. airline, insiders usually laugh.
Even the most successful investors often struggle with airlines, where barriers to entry remain high. Perhaps the outsider has a decent business plan, and a niche that needs servicing. Even then, it's usually tough, because it's so difficult to get an airline running and certified. (Just ask California Pacific Airlines.)
But no one is counting out David Neeleman. Reports indicate Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways and Brazil's Azul Airlines, wants back in the United States, and is seeking investors in a startup that may fly point-to-point routes from smaller airports. Neeleman has been gone from the U.S. industry for about a decade, since he was pushed out as JetBlue CEO, and later left as board chairman.
Established airlines could lose share. Brett Snyder, who blogs as Cranky Flier, wrote in a recent post Southwest Airlines may be most at risk since it flies to many airports Neeleman may chose. But what about JetBlue? It still uses much of Neeleman's playbook, giving passengers an above-average product at decent fares.
I asked JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes about it recently, but he said he's nether surprised nor wor
