At Sheikh Ahmed's prompting, the government has implemented a highly liberal open-skies policy, encouraging other countries to open routes to Dubai and allowing Emirates to build its network.

ECONOMIST: Aviation in the Gulf

Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's prime minister, raised the possibility of a single ASEAN visa for tourists and an open-skies policy for airlines.

ECONOMIST: Noodle soup

BA, which has long dictated aviation policy to British governments, duly offered to drop its resistance to open skies in exchange for approval for its link-up with American.

ECONOMIST: Turbulence in the air