Saudia, the national flag carrier, duly bought American, leaving Airbus fuming in the desert.

ECONOMIST: Thank you, Singapore

When Mr Shamir arrived on the scene he was fresh from helping guide the national flag carrier, El Al, towards privatisation and he was willing to take on the job only if he had the same freedom to lead IAI in a similar direction.

ECONOMIST: Aerospace in Israel

He denied that he had extended favours to Lucio Tan, the owner of the tottering national flag-carrier, Philippine Airlines.

ECONOMIST: People power rides again

When Seiji Maehara, the transport minister, forced Japan Airlines (JAL), the national flag-carrier, into a court-administered bankruptcy, he reportedly had to flout the wishes of his senior civil servants.

ECONOMIST: Tackling Japan's bureaucracy

Tony Fernandes, the bullish chief executive, says that his dream of a new airport was born out of frustration with Malaysia Airports, KLIA's operator, which is controlled by Khazanah Nasional, the government's investment fund, as is Malaysia Airlines, the national flag-carrier.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia's airport controversy