... but compared to other local carriers (with the exception of LCC's) is probably the most advanced as far as operating like an independent, cost-effective airline operating under real-world economics.
, and
The sooner the spilt occurs between the two owners the better...
You are both right. EK are not far away from the real world despite all is said about the government support and all the costless DNATA support, etc., etc..
Bahrain and Oman relevant air transport officials could still put their heads together if they were grown ups. BAH would become the hub and spoke for the West and MCT for the East. They could easily fly BAH-DOH-MCT-DOH-BAH or BAH-DXB-MCT-DXB-BAH and BAH-AUH-MCT-AUH-BAH with full traffic rights (with those multiple coupons removed at the gates) with the shorter range aircraft to feed the international flights in either direction and still ensuring the royals and vvips get their non-stop flights to London
. But, I don't think this is going to happen unless GF and all the other players went fully private in an open skies policy across the region
. Not in my days here...
But then why wait? Split now
since the mood is there. GF (and Bahrain) will lose initially. They'll have to downsize with the immediate consequences for staff, but they'll be able to gain the reigns of their own and keep a better cost-control and commercial vision. WY (and Oman) will gain much more. If unprepared for it, they will have teething problems endemic to the region.
It is unthinkable to have an airline like GF without a CEO for such a long time. GF may say they are not a rudderless aeroplane since they have an acting... CEO, but this has gone too long with this "acting".