JetBlue Founder Launching Brazilian Carrier

David Neeleman, the chairman and founder of JetBlue, plans to start up his fourth airline, a domestic carrier in Brazil. Mr. Neeleman, who was born in Brazil, has raised $150 million to finance the carrier, which doesn’t have a name yet.

The airline, to be based in Sao Paulo, plans to commence operations in early 2009 and ultimately serve most major markets in Brazil by 2013 with as many as 76 new Embraer aircraft.

The startup has placed an aircraft order for 36 Embraer E195 jets, with options for another 20 and purchase rights for a further 20. The firm orders are valued at $1.4 billion. The order, if all options and purchase rights are exercised, is valued at $3 billion.