Moxy, the new airline planned by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, may take to the air next year instead of waiting for deliveries of its fleet of A220s starting the year after.
That’s because one of Neeleman’s current projects, Brazil’s Azul airline, has just gotten the first of its fleet of Embraer E195-E2s, a 136-seat stretched version of the popular E195. That makes a number of its existing E190s and E195s surplus, and Neeleman has hinted he might use them to speed up Moxy’s plan.
If he does decide to go ahead, he’ll still need a name: Moxy is a working title that can’t be used for the airline because of a conflict with Marriott’s Moxy hotels. As well, the new airline’s application for an Air Operator certificate is still in the works.
Once flying, the new airline plans to serve secondary cities that have no non-stop service. If the plan seems a bit odd, it’s important to remember that Neeleman seems to have a feel for markets. He’s been among the founders of WestJet and Morris Air as well as JetBlue and Azul. He’s also the principal owner of TAP Portugal.
Photo: Neeleman, left, at Azul’s ceremony welcoming the first E2
