Not long after Southwest Airlines bought David Neeleman's first low-budget airline, the company canned him as an executive planner. Following a stint at a touch-screen airline reservation business, he launched JetBlue in 1999 -- building a cult following with live TV at each seat. It was also one of the few airlines to remain profitable in the aftermath the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Despite massive delays and cancellations in February 2007 that led to a public-relations nightmare and Neeleman ultimately stepping aside as CEO (he stayed on as chairman), JetBlue remains a customer-service leader in the industry.