What are some of the major internal issues facing Emirates that affect its competitiveness and which should be addressed by strategic planning?

In an industry where profitable firms are scarce, Emirates has delivered solid growth and solid financial performance for years. Why? What is behind Emirates’ success?
What is the role of Dubai in Emirates’ success?
What are the strengths of Emirates’ Dubai-based hub-an-spoke model? What are the weaknesses?
Is Emirates’ strategy sustainable? Why?
What are some of the major internal issues facing Emirates that affect its competitiveness and which should be addressed by strategic planning?
What are some of the major external issues facing Emirates that affect its competitiveness and which should be addressed by strategic planning?