Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways: Opportunities for airports as Gulf airlines expand

Over the course of the coming decade, the world's international airports will be presented with unprecedented route development opportunities, as the 'Big Three' Middle East carriers, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Emirates, enter a highly aggressive development phase. With an average 42 aircraft (mostly widebodies) scheduled annually for delivery to these three airlines (combined) this decade, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are mapping out aggressive capacity deployment plans for 2010 and beyond - with airports in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas all featuring prominently. Qatar Airways represents the best near-term opportunity for the world's airports (reflecting its extraordinary aircraft delivery schedule over the next three years), while Emirates and Etihad Airways, are fast filling the main gaps in their route networks and slowing their expansion rates - briefly.