Travel Industry CEO Interviews

As Singapore Airlines celebrates getting one step closer to reentering the U.S. market with nonstop flights it isn't forgetting the markets that already demonstrate solid growth and demand. The Singapore Airlines Group is trying to appeal to every kind of flyer in Asia and it's betting on success in that region before expanding to the U.S. and elsewhere.

Services that automate smarter buying decisions in corporate travel are part of a wave of transformative change that will cause the corporate travel ecosystem to evolve.

We believe that a partnership between Norwegian and Ryanair makes sense and could take off with few complications. But we don't believe converting long-term rivals to new friends is done easily in aviation. Still, if anyone could argue until this gets done, it would be O'Leary--with credit going to Willie Walsh. That alone is a remarkable thing.

As Europe awaits a decision from U.K. voters on the Brexit Referendum, O'Leary balances an honest, even cutting, evaluation of Europe's flaws with a vision of a better Europe. It's that same dogged determination against opposition which has helped make Ryanair the world's largest airline in passenger traffic.

Norwegian hopes to capitalize on its growing fleet to offer Europe's largest network of direct transatlantic routes. Set backs in Cork aside, CEO Kjos wants to put all the Dreamliners and Boeing 737 MAX the airline has on order to good use.

While others are launching or acquiring new brands to increase their global footprints, Four Seasons has stuck with a singular brand that boasts diverse luxury properties. How long it will continue to play the contrarian in this world of mergers and soft brands is another story.

More Chinese travelers than ever before are traveling to the U.S. and Alitrip is looking to provide custom, mobile-booked itineraries through its relationship with North American hotels, airlines and tour operators. It helps that its parent company is the preeminent Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, giving them near-unlimited resources to compete in a crowded Chinese travel market.

Travel agencies need to get younger, and more creative, if they're going to survive. For what it's worth, some agencies are doing what it takes protect themselves from the travel companies that want agents sliced out of the industry.

If the cruise industry truly wants to speak with one voice, the Cruise Lines International Association needs to hire a CEO who will stick around.

Flight Centre Travel Group's global scale and multitude of brands have made it easier to experiment on the longevity of its Liberty Travel leisure agency locations in big cities.