David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue, WestJet and Azul Brazilian Airlines, has proven himself among the most successful entrepreneurs in the airline industry.
His next venture, an as-yet-unnamed, low-cost carrier that aims to offer customers convenient, nonstop service out of secondary U.S. airports, will be headquartered in Salt Lake City, according to a statement from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).
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“We’re excited to announce our investment to make Utah our headquarters,” said David Neeleman, CEO of Breeze Aviation. “Utah’s exceptional workforce and business environment will ensure that we have all the support needed to provide exceptional customer service for our new startup.”
While Breeze Aviation (which is the name of Neeleman’s corporation, but not necessary of the future airline) will be based in Utah’s capital, this doesn’t guarantee that any of the city’s airports will serve as the nascent airline’s operational hub. Still, Theresa A. Foxley, president and CEO of EDCUtah, noted, “We welcome Breeze Aviation to consider service to any of the many great airports that the state of Utah offers.”
“Breeze Aviation’s headquarters operation will be a welcome addition to Utah’s growing aerospace industry,” said Val Hale, GOED’s executive director. “We’re excited to partner with an experienced team with such an outstanding track record.”
The GOED reported that Breeze Aviation is planning a capital investment amount of $3.2 million over the next five years, and will create close to 400 jobs in the area.
