Did You Know JetBlue Was Originally Going To Be Called 'Taxi' & Have Yellow Planes?

Summary David Neeleman aimed for a low-cost airline with quality service, creating JetBlue in 2000. JetBlue initially faced challenges but rebounded post-9/11, adapting and growing. Operating for over 24 years, JetBlue now has multiple hubs and a diverse fleet.

A huge admirer of Southwest Airlines' business model and already the founder of Calgary, Canada-based WestJet, Brazilian-American businessman and entrepreneur David Neeleman saw a niche in the market. Sticking with Southwest Airlines' low-cost fares, Neeleman wanted to have a budget-focused airline that not only sold inexpensive tickets but also offered the same type of service found on legacy carriers. Unlike many airlines that began offering point-to-point routes, Neeleman preferred to operate a hub-and-spoke model similar to Southwest Airlines.

Initially, Neeleman and his partners considered basing the airline at either Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The first JetBlue hub was at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Establishing its first hub was decided in 1999 after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey awarded the company 75 slots at John F.

Kennedy International Airport (JFK). So, with the decision more or less decided, the plan was to paint the planes yellow like New York City's iconic cabs and call the airline "Taxi." However, the name turned out to be short-lived after objections from Air Traffic Control (ATC), who said the name could lead.