Australia may be unique in ceding so many landing rights to foreign carriers without a hope of real reciprocity. The Europeans and Canadians, to name just two, are not nearly so generous.
If we are to enjoy the dry economic argument of more competition means lower fares then we must complete the idea with the admission that eventually there will be a winner and that then monopoly pricing will again prevail.
I believe that EK can end up being too successful...too easy a target for punitive retroactive protectionism. But of course that will be after its already to late for the former flag carriers.
On the other hand, Air NZ has yesterday demonstrated what able management can achieve.
...anyway, got to run! It almost tee time here at the Clifford Invitational. Fore!