A plan for a radically-different international airline that intends to fly routes where there is no competition over long distances with small single-aisle planes and rely heavily on tech for its operations and customer service: Does it sound a bit improbable?
And yet, that’s the plan for a still-unnamed airline, code-named Moxy, that hopes to get off the ground in 2021. And before you dismiss the idea out of hand, note that the man behind the plan is David Neeleman, founder of Westjet, JetBlue and Azul airlines, and co-owner of TAP Portugal.
Neeleman’s plan relies on using Airbus A220s, the former Bombardier Cseries, on routes between the U.S. and Europe, South America and Europe and the U.S. and South America. He cites the A220s ability to use short runways and make 11-hour flights as key; it would enable the airline to serve smaller airports where others don’t compete. It’s also small enough that it doesn’t require hundreds of passengers per flight to show a profit.
In September, Neeleman and Airbus announced an order for 60 of the planes, with an option for more. When they come out of the paint shop, they won’t say Moxy, though: that trademark belongs to a Hilton hotel brand. After JetBlue and Azul, maybe it’s time for SkyBlue?
He expects to base the company’s operations in Salt Lake City, with all sales and customer service on line via chat or call-back. “You don’t have to speak to us,” Neeleman said. “You won’t be able to speak to us. You’ll be able to reach out to us and you’ll be able to chat with us and we’ll call you. You won’t be able to call us because everything will be functional,” he said.
