Dave Neeleman of JetBlue to Start Brazilian Airline

[On Your Six]

I wonder if JB pilots will get preferential hiring at the Brazilian airline? What about Cape Air pilots? Read below:

Report: JetBlue's founder wants to start Brazilian airline, buy 36 Embraer jets

By ALAN CLENDENNING updated 1 hour

SAO PAULO, Brazil - The founder of JetBlue Airways wants to start a new Brazilian airline and is in negotiations with Brazil's Embraer plane maker to buy 36 mid-range jets, a leading Brazilian newspaper reported Tuesday. David Neeleman, JetBlue's chairman, has lined up investment totaling about US$200 million (??138 million) for the venture, the O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported.

The newspaper, citing sources close to the deal, said Neeleman has already bought a small Brazilian airline named Cheta with government authorization to operate in Latin America's largest nation. Messages left for Neeleman and Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Neeleman was ousted as chief executive of JetBlue Airways Corp. last year after the low-fare airline was gridlocked following a U.S. ice storm that created problems for the carrier's policy of not canceling flights ahead of bad weather. Thousands of people were trapped on planes for hours or stranded in terminals for days. Because Neeleman holds both American and Brazilian citizenship, he would be able to overcome a major hurdle: A requirement that only 20 percent of Brazilian airlines can be owned by foreigners or foreign companies.

JetBlue uses Embraer planes in the United States, and Neeleman helped the Brazilian plane maker by placing the first large orders of its mid-range jets by an American airline. He was born in Brazil and speaks fluent Portuguese. The entry of a new carrier in Brazil would mark the first major competition for Brazilian market leaders TAM Linhas Aereas SA and Gol Linhas Aereas Intelligentes SA in several years, following the collapse former Brazilian flagship carrier Varig under a mountain of debt. Varig's passenger flight operations were sold to Gol, which sharply trimmed Varig's operations.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

Yea just what you want, to fly in Brazil. Brazilian ATC to clears you to land on an occupied runway and you are the one that gets thrown in jail for gross negligence. I think i'd pass on that.

 

[Varig]

Flying in Brazil just plain sucks....

 

[On Your Six]

Flying in Brazil just plain sucks....

Can you elaborate? In all of my travels I have never hit Brazil although the boss mentions it as a possible destination this summer. I am aware of the recent crashes and Legacy/GOL collision. What else for those who are uninitiated?

 

[jke406]

Can you elaborate? In all of my travels I have never hit Brazil although the boss mentions it as a possible destination this summer. I am aware of the recent crashes and Legacy/GOL collision. What else for those who are uninitiated?

Non-radar environment, lack of ATC training/proficiency, extremely unfriendly government agencies...for starters.

 

[regionaltard]

No downside to hot FA's though.

 

[jke406]

What's the deal, does the Mormon church need some more presence down there?

 

[freightdogfred]

Non-radar environment, lack of ATC training/proficiency, extremely unfriendly government agencies...for starters.

Non-Radar? Big deal. I actually prefer it that way. 30 miles out, you're cleared for the approach. Do what ever the hell you want. I'm a big boy now, I don't need a controller to lead me around by the hand or play seeing-eye dog. As far as unfriendly govt. agencies go, I make a habit of avoiding them south of the border. In point of fact, in 22 years of flying south of the border I've never met ANY govt official from any country, except the customs and immigration guys. (Cept one time in Panama, outside the downtown Patilla airport when we got rolled walked out to the highway to hail a cab.) Brazil is a way cool place, lots of great places to see and things to do. Like any country or big city, there's lots of trouble to be had if you like to go looking for it. I guess it depends on what you like.

 

[jke406]

All well and good until you're unlucky enough to be involved in an incident. Then we'll see how your land of milk and honey treats you.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

Maybe he's Mexican. Are you Mexican freightdogfred?

And yes, Mexican is a generic term for anyone who's primary language is spanish AND THAT INCLUDES PORTUGUESE.