Tima9x,
Not exactly new news.
Joyce at Press Club 9 October, just after EK deal announced
Dubai will complement Los Angeles and Dallas, the gateways to North America; Santiago for South America; Johannesburg for Southern Africa; and Singapore and Hong Kong for Asia.
Emirates will complement our relationships with American Airlines, LAN, South African Airways and China Eastern, along with oneworld™.
Ka.Boom
Agree on China Southern as a match for Virgin - more virtual networks, Southern does all the flying but Virgin helps with distribution... something Cathay doesn't need as much.
Albeit not sure how happy Singapore and Etihad would be given the promotion China Southern is putting in to the Canton Route to Europe