We saw last year that American airlines and European airlines applied realistic baggage charges. And I think Middle Eastern and South East Asian airlines will also need to achieve profitability across the board. So this means an interesting couple of days at Davos.

What challenges will you face in 2010?
There are always challenges in any business in a global environment. Let’s hope that coming out of this European cold snap that we don’t see the pandemic repeating. Obviously, we watch carefully. We continue to push governments to open up markets like Canada.

We are not working in one country or one region, but in the world. So we are having to manage risk and competitive impacts every day on a global basis.

How did Dubai’s economic troubles impact Etihad Airways?
I think one of the great advantages for Gulf carriers is that we are closer to everywhere else in the world. And it’s one stop. It’s more that the corporate crowd slowed down their travel and people due to the pandemic were apprehensive about going to Australia, Europe, or America.

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