On a seperate note, I see EK has an interlining agreement with BE to offer connections IOM-MAN-DXB(-onwards). I was aware BE codeshare with EY, but how long has this EK agreement been going?
Obviously not covering MAN for this long, but since at least October 2002. EK are listed as an interline partner in an old BE Winter 2002-3 timetable I have