Middle East majors to dominate international travel?
Is it not obvious that the 3 vastly wealthy states are set to take over many of the world's long haul routes once the large state carriers elsewhere have shrunk dramatically? I may be naive about this, but it strikes me that the 3 airlines which are underwritten by sovereign wealth funds can withstand the economic pressures faced by the rest of the world's carriers. Particularly as fuel supplies for the oil-rich states are cheap and limitless.
Clearly travel rules could be altered to prevent this, but it as things stand, the likes of BA, LH, AF, KLM, IB, SK, AZ, CX, JL, and Chinese carriers could stand to lose significant market share. The US, Canadian and South American majors are also exposed on their routes to Europe it would seem.
Now I may be looking at this situation simplistically, but am concluding that state support to keep many airlines afloat and strong is vital for the long run.