Real Talk with David Neeleman

TFK Kid Reporter Nate Rhew interviewed David Neeleman, CEO of Breeze Airways. Neeleman has founded five commercial airlines.

Read the transcript below, which has been edited for length and clarity, to learn about Neeleman’s career in his own words.

What inspired you to focus your career on airlines and aviation?

I became interested in airplanes from a pretty young age. I’m also kind of an innovator, and the airline industry needed innovation at the time. I got really interested in Southwest Airlines and how they could do it for less than everybody else. So I started studying them, and became [interested in] how I could do it better.

What strategies helped you succeed during your work?

Just trying to be extraordinary and surrounding myself with good people. I have attention deficit disorder, so I can be all over the map. It’s important that I surround myself with people who can be honest and say, “Yeah, that’s a great idea,” or “No, that’s not.” Then you come to a consensus and try to be as flawless as you can.

So you want your airlines to stand out from the others?

Yes. When I launched JetBlue, low-fare carriers had old airplanes, and ours were brand-new. We had leather seats, and everyone else had cloth seats. We had live television on board, and people were like, “Wow this isn’t like your typical low-fare startup airline.”

 You took part in National Disability Employment Awareness Month. What inspired you to do that?

We have a partnership with an organization called Autism Double-Checked. We host mock events where we invite kids with autism to the airport and simulate boarding a flight. A lot of these kids have never traveled before because their parents worry about how their kids may react to being in a different environment. When I saw the impact the events had on these families, I was in. We were the first airline to be certified by Autism Double-Checked for flight-attendant training.

You have shared that your ADD can be a superpower. Could you please elaborate on that?

I can think outside the box and look at a very complex situation and simplify it and figure it out. And I can look at the world just a little bit differently and figure out solutions to things that people would not have thought of. 

School can be tough for neurodivergent kids, both academically and socially. What advice do you have for them?

Just try your hardest and stay positive. You can be exceptional in what you do. If you can stay focused on what your passion is, you’ll be successful.