Originally Posted by jbcarioca

I just flew from DXB yesterday to GIG. It is a bit surrealistic to wake up today to realize all that was just about to happen right after we left UAE airspace.;
Consider the longstanding close connections between various Gulf states and Iran ( sharing the Abu Musa oilfield, for example between Sharjah and Iran) not to mention the large Shia'a populations in the eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait;
Then consider the centuries-long disputes of various types throughout the region, many of which have festered and been suppressed throughout the region;
Then consider the Netanyahu government and the also festering internal issues in Israel;
Then consider also the evolving development of Israel recognition by Gulf states and other Arab countries , every one of which are not Shia'a controlled;

All of those things are very relevant the rapid development of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar airlines, all of which depend on stable airspace, congenial tourism and expatriate policies and prosperous local economies.

Then enter two politicians with somewhat fragile national politics in the form of Trump and Netanyahu, and couple those with a fragile and not very competent government in Iran. That is a perfect world to offer belligerence and interventionistic leadership to use military action as a means to avoid messy domestic issues.

In that world there is threat to my two favorite airlines EK and QR.

FWIW, it is now a little more than fifty years since my four favorite airlines were IranAir,and Pan Am long haul and Middle East Airlines and Gulf Air regionally. Then the B747SP made nonstop flights from the Middle East to US pleasurable (in First, that is) with the TriStar making Bahrain trips a joy. All of those pretty much disappeared due to Midddle East /western political machinations. Gulf Air, the exception ceded its position to the emergence of EK, QR and EY.

I cannot help but wonder if EK, EY and QR will be unscathed in the present circumstances. It is relevant also that the Straits of Hormuz are so central to conflicts.

I hope I have not gone too far off-topic. I don't think so, since EK, as I write, is completely shut down due to events completely out of UAE control.

I cannot help but to be saddened as my favorite places and past residences continue to be damaged by geopolitics conducted by people who have no idea what they are toying with nor the huge consequences their ignorance brings. It has been ever thus, for more than 2000 years. Will people never learn?

As i write this I'm sitting at my desk with EK pajamas and memorabilia of those past events surrounding me.