The number of airlines has been shrinking in the last decade as airlines merge and acquire rivals, cutting competition and reducing choices for air travelers.
Now David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue and a major investor in the Portuguese airline TAP and Brazilian carrier Azul, says he is leading a group of investors to create a new airline in the United States.
“After years of U.S. airline consolidation, the conditions are improving for a new generation of U.S. airlines to emerge, focused on passengers, service and satisfaction,” he said in a statement.
The investors group made a commitment with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to buy 60 A220-300 jets, with deliveries to begin in 2021.
The last new airline to launch in the United States with regularly scheduled commercial flights was Virgin America in 2007. It was acquired by Alaska Airlines in 2016 and is being absorbed by the Seattle-based carrier.
