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How I Built This with Guy Raz
How I Built This with Guy Raz

Advice Line with David Neeleman of JetBlue

April 30, 2026 • 44m

Summary

⏱️ 9 min read

Overview

Guy Raz hosts the Advice Line with guest expert David Neeleman, founder of five airlines including JetBlue, Azul, and Breeze Airways. Three entrepreneurs call in seeking guidance: Barbara Storper on sustaining her nutrition education theater company, Jeff Pyjack on expanding his ninja gym franchise and launching a professional league, and Vince Speroni on growing his organic men's underwear brand. Neeleman shares insights on the importance of flawless execution, building community, and focusing on what you can control.

Introduction to Breeze Airways and David Neeleman's Philosophy

David Neeleman discusses his newest airline venture, Breeze Airways, which began operating in 2021. He explains how he's applied lessons from his previous airlines - buying new planes for lower costs from Southwest, treating people well from JetBlue, and creating monopoly markets from his Brazil experience with Azul. Breeze now serves 89 cities across 36 states with 314 routes, focusing on underserved markets that lost air service over the past decade while offering premium travel options at lower costs.

  • Breeze Airways operates primarily Airbus A220s with 25% lower trip costs, serving cities that lost air service
  • 85% of Azul's markets in Brazil have no nonstop competition, teaching the value of monopoly markets
  • Breeze has announced 89 cities across 36 states with 314 different routes
  • The airline has the highest NPS score Neeleman has ever seen because people appreciate nonstop flights and great service
" I learned from my Southwest experience that if you bought brand new airplanes, it was actually cheaper than if you got old airplanes. "
" Too much overkill is never enough. It's not enough to have the only non-stop flight but you want to be able to have the best service. "
" A dollar increase in the jet fuel price is $120 million. $2, where we are right now pretty much, is $240 million a year. "

Barbara Storper's Nutrition Education Theater Company Dilemma

Barbara Storper, founder of Food Play Productions, calls in seeking advice on sustaining her 45-year-old nutrition education theater company. At its peak from 2010-2017, the company generated $1.5 million in revenue with four touring vans, but has since downsized significantly. She's struggling with whether to continue live performances versus digital content and how to ensure the company survives beyond her involvement while maintaining its mission of promoting healthy eating to children.

  • Food Play Productions has been doing live theater nutrition education shows since 1982
  • At peak revenue (2010-2016), the company made $1.5 million annually with 12 staff members and four touring vans
  • The company partners with healthcare organizations and supermarkets to sponsor shows so schools don't have to pay
  • Food Play has evidence-based results from USDA and CDC plus 10 national awards
" What could be as powerful as these ads and the marketing by the food industry and I realized that theater is as powerful and really fun. "
" If you go to Brazil and you go into a bathroom after lunch in any business, everyone's in there brushing their teeth. They said, we learned to do that in school. When we were in school, we brushed our teeth and those habits continued on. "

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