It feels fair that EK should concentrate on breaking into new markets, namely European regional destinations that will enable pax to connect. Plus, EK is doing its best on entering North America.
EK cares about filling its planes up. After all, SSH and LXR and HRG aren't sure-fire successes. But they're important enough to go on the long-term list. My point is that with EK serving these low-yields, then they'd become high-yields, with the right marketing and a little patience. There is a lot of potential-SSH handles around 5m passengers a year. Both Saudi and Kuwaiti serve the airport but I bet its all point-to-point.