A global emissions trading scheme devised by the airlines may be the only option for airlines to avoid paying punitive taxes to individual countries, Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines, told a conference in Hong Kong last month.

China will probably speed up the snail's pace liberalization of air services to the U.S. in a few years, as the improved financial health of its airlines raises confidence that they can cope with the competition, says Michael Whitaker, the United Airlines VP responsible for international and regulatory affairs.

Japan Airlines will rebalance its business increasingly toward the domestic market, even as it enjoys stronger international marketing after formally entering the Oneworld alliance Apr. 1. The carrier is showing no interest in the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, despite the famously limited runway capacity of Tokyo's airports, with President Haruka Nishimatsu saying the company currently is more interested in buying 787s and 777s, though he's giving no details on timing.