A brief look at how the Gulf carriers have influenced small market growth

That the Middle East's 'Big Three' (ME3)of Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have made a huge contribution to the gravitation of world aviation towards the Gulf region is indisputable - although Turkish Airlines is increasingly challenging that preeminent role. But while most of the attention is on how the ME3 have adversely affected traffic at the established global hubs, mainly in Europe and potentially so in North America (which occasionally leads to wars of words with western airlines and governments), their largely beneficial influence over smaller hubs and gateways is often overlooked.