5th Freedom Rights
I can't see any point in going anywhere via CDG, FRA, LHR/LGW etc unless they have 5th freedom rights. I can't see any European country falling over themselves to grant those rights unless there is one hell of a payback. Just more competition for their own flag carriers. In the old days a/c stopped in the gulf on their way to the Far East because they didn't have the legs to go direct. That is almost all finished now.