Azura Airways could commence operations as early as this October one of the project's co-directors David Neeleman has said.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the founder of JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK) and Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos) said Azura Airways would focus on the VIP passenger charter niche with several companies having already signed up for its services. However, he denied having a direct role in the start-up stating: “I’m not starting an airline. I’m helping out a couple of friends. It’s not like David Neeleman sees a great opportunity here. We’ll do a couple of planes and see how it goes.”
According to Trey Urbahn, a longtime Neeleman loyalist, Azura Airways is looking at a pair of CRJ200s configured with sixteen seats for its initial operating plans.
Aside from VIPs and other high profile clients such as college sports teams, the venture will also target US firms needing to shuttle employees between corporate locations.
