oneworld bows to flexibility in accepting Qatar Airways; Gulf carriers at epicentre for aviation

Just a couple of years ago the Gulf carriers were under attack from almost the entire airline establishment. The old network carriers, threatened by the rapid expansion into their markets of Emirates and then Etihad and Qatar Airways, used every device possible to slow the onslaught of the Middle East operators on the traditional hub system, in which the major European gateways featured strongly. The Gulf carriers were "unfairly subsidised by their governments", they were "dumping capacity" into others' markets, they "should not be granted further bilateral access"; in short they were a threat to the established world order as we knew it.

How things can change in the blink of an eye. In the short space a month all three have been welcomed into the hearths of the world's biggest and oldest airlines - Emirates with Qantas (and probably soon with others); Etihad with Air France-KLM and now Qatar Airways in oneworld. It is not entirely coincidence. Once the first domino fell, it was always going to be a rush for the remaining partners.