List Books » Flying High: How JetBlue Founder and CEO David Neeleman Beats the Competition... Even in the World's Most Turbulent Industry
Authors: James Wynbrandt
ISBN-13: 9780471655442, ISBN-10: 0471655449
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
Date Published: June 2004
Edition: (Non-applicable)
David Neeleman is much more than one of today’s most accomplished aviation executives. Throughout an incredible career that began with selling Hawaiian timeshare vacation packages as a college student and ultimately led to the creation of JetBlue, Neeleman has demonstrated an uncanny ability to identify and fill unmet needs by building niche businesses. Flying High is a straightforward, illuminating account of David Neeleman’s life and the principles by which he has created his highly profitable travel empire–rules that can be applied to virtually any business in almost every industry.
James Wynbrandt is a New York—based author and award-winning aviation and business reporter. He is a regular contributor to numerous high-profile aviation publications, including Smithsonian Air and Space, Plane & Pilot, General Aviation News, Avionics News, and Pilot Journal. A licensed pilot, Wynbrandt has been following JetBlue since the company’s founding. His articles on business and aviation have also appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Management Review, Computer and Electronics Marketing, Flying, and Aspen Magazine, among others.
"While Flying High tells the tale of JetBluefrom how it was founded to the way in which it operates todaythis book is the story of David Neeleman. Throughout this fascinating journey, youll discover the management techniques Neeleman has developed and used over the years, which most observers credit for JetBlues unparalleled accomplishments. While he applies these rules to running JetBlue, they are truly applicable to every business in every industry."
From the Introduction
JetBlue is the most impressive airline startup in history and an amazing success story. Its consistent record of profitability has made the carrier shine in an industry thats full of red ink.
Behind it all stands David NeelemanJetBlues young, brash, bold, and uncompromising founder and CEO.
Flying High traces Neelemans spectacular journey from soft-spoken Mormon missionary to the top of the American airline industry. Full of insightful details and interviews with Neelemans friends, associates, and prominent figures in both business and aviation, Flying High offers an up-close look at how he built a successful companyand changed an entire industryby breaking the rules and taking good care of his customers. Among other things, youll discover how Neeleman:
"If you want to know what it takes to develop a great businessnot just an airlineFlying High is a must-read. James Wynbrandt does an excellent job of bringing JetBlue founder David Neelemans amazing personal journey and business innovativeness to life in an interesting and exciting manner."
Dave Sclair
Publisher Emeritus, General Aviation News
"James Wynbrandt adeptly captures the elements that have made David Neeleman and his remarkable airline, JetBlue, a huge success. Flying High is a tribute to Neelemans true depth. By developing a visionary business model and the right communications strategy, he was able to pilot JetBlue to profitability with finesse. Its a must-read for people in any business seeking success."
Howard J. Rubenstein
President, Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
"In Flying High, James Wynbrandt tells the completely beguiling story of how a former Mormon missionary with attention deficit disorder and a history of both bankruptcy and getting fired from a high-profile job created one of the great airline successes of our time. What is David Neelemans secret at JetBlue? Its a new concept called understanding what your customers really need. Neelemans fanatical attention to customer satisfaction, employee relations, and technology make for such a fascinating read, I raced through the book in one sitting."
Rinker Buck
Aviation journalist and author, Flight of Passage: A Memoir
Author Biography: David Neeleman is much more than one of todays most accomplished aviation executives. Throughout an incredible career that began with selling Hawaiian timeshare vacation packages as a college student and ultimately led to the creation of JetBlue, Neeleman has demonstrated an uncanny ability to identify and fill unmet needs by building niche businesses. Flying High is a straightforward, illuminating account of David Neelemans life and the principles by which he has created his highly profitable travel empirerules that can be applied to virtually any business in almost every industry.
James Wynbrandt is a New Yorkbased author and award-winning aviation and business reporter. He is a regular contributor to numerous high-profile aviation publications, including Smithsonian Air and Space, Plane & Pilot, General Aviation News, Avionics News, and Pilot Journal. A licensed pilot, Wynbrandt has been following JetBlue since the companys founding. His articles on business and aviation have also appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Management Review, Computer and Electronics Marketing, Flying, and Aspen Magazine, among others.
Introduction | 1 | |
Chapter 1 | The Journey Begins | 7 |
Chapter 2 | Have I Got a Deal for You | 23 |
Chapter 3 | Morris Air Spreads Its Wings | 39 |
Chapter 4 | Off to Southwest | 55 |
Chapter 5 | Opening Up New Skies | 73 |
Chapter 6 | A Different Kind of Airline | 85 |
Chapter 7 | Preparing for Departure | 103 |
Chapter 8 | JetBlue Takes Flight | 121 |
Chapter 9 | Making Air Travel Entertaining | 139 |
Chapter 10 | Keeping Customers Happy | 151 |
Chapter 11 | The Technology Advantage | 163 |
Chapter 12 | Getting the Word Out in Style | 177 |
Chapter 13 | Dealing with Disaster | 193 |
Chapter 14 | Preserving the Culture | 213 |
Chapter 15 | Looking to the Future | 225 |
Chapter 16 | David Neeleman's Rules for Succeeding in Any Business | 243 |
JetBlue Timeline | 255 | |
Acknowledgments | 263 | |
Notes | 265 | |
Index | 289 |