Growing up with a pilot and a flight attendant as parents, recently retired JetBlue CEO David Barger was surrounded by flight. It’s no surprise his career in business led him to the airline industry and eventually to JetBlue, where he was the founding president and COO. JetBlue Airways arrived in 1998 promising to change the airline landscape with low-cost fares and amenities such as in-flight entertainment at every seat. As a result, the airline enjoyed great success and has consistently ranked at the top of customer service surveys. But now, JetBlue has followed the recent industry trend of charging baggage fees and providing less legroom. In this Lindbergh Lecture, David Barger speaks about the evolution of the airline business over the past 35 years, the triumphs of JetBlue in the industry, and the future of the airline travel.

This lecture is made possible by the generous support of Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies Corporation.