Diamonds in the Rough: Sometimes airlines generate big profits in the least likely places

Many years ago, the small nation of Singapore set out to turn itself into a reliable, comfortable and headache-free place to do business with surrounding countries like China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, which… well… weren’t so headache free. Eventually Singapore evolved into an oasis of stability and prosperity, with an airline that was equally reliable, comfortable and headache-free to fly. Today, many Asian economies are more friendly to businesses, and their airlines are increasingly respected by business travelers. But still, Singapore Airlines succeeds to a not insignificant degree by providing reliable service to unreliable places, competing against unreliable carriers.