Singapore Airlines' resumption of nonstop services to Newark and Los Angeles represents a major bet on premium traffic and will shake up rivals such as Cathay Pacific and United Airlines.

Copa Airlines chief executive Pedro Heilbron is somewhat of an anomaly in the airline sector. While other airline leaders have come and gone through industry consolidation, geopolitical challenges and global economic downturns, Heilbron has remained at the helm of Copa for 30 years, steering what is arguably the most consistently profitable airline in Latin America today.

China Southern Airlines' UK office overlooks capacity-constrained London Heathrow airport, where efforts to build a third runway are still years away from fruition.