The rapid rise of the low-cost carrier sector has been driven by some of the most dynamic, determined and talked about personalities within the airline sector.

From the industry's founding father, Southwest Airlines stalwart Herb Kelleher; through those that followed the airline model in Europe like larger than life Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary; and pioneers across regions including music mogul, Formula1 team Caterham and Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes in Asia, these figures have broken down barriers in developing the no-frills airline model.

As part of the Airline Business low-cost carrier interactive special, we profile the Magnificant Seven - budget airline leaders who have pioneered the model across different markets.

Alongside Kelleher, O'Leary and Fernandes, we look at EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ionanou - who remains a highly vocal and outspoken shareholder in the airline. We profile David Neeleman, who has followed his success at US low-cost operator JetBlue with the launch of fast-growing Brazilian airline Azul, as well as Constantino De Oliveira Jr, the head of Latin America's biggest budget carrier, Gol. We also profile Adel Ali, who brought the model to the Middle East with Air Arabia.

Source: Airline Business