EK's stated business plan from the beginning has been for DXB to replace LHR as the worldwide connecting hub, so I can see how BA may not be all that warm and fuzzy toward EK. The other founding members of Oneworld were not attempting to put other founding members out of business.

If EK succeeds with its plan of airline domination once it has nearly 300 widebody jets, it will be the exception to the general rule that a huge hub requires huge O&D. And try as it might, Dubai will never be Vegas. Or Orlando. I don't see vast numbers of Americans flocking to Dubai so they can shop at dozens of malls. We already have dozens of malls. In 2011, American tourists to Dubai numbered about 1,267 per day, or about three widebody flights worth. Sure, Dubai will attract tens of millions of visitors from countries with inadequate shopping malls, until those countries build sufficient numbers of malls.

BA leave Oneworld? Doubt it. That would leave Finnair and Air Berlin to cover Europe. EK join Oneworld? Don't see what benefits EK would gain. Might as well play the field like AS does.