Even in this oasis of extravagance, Terminal 3 at the Dubai International Airport startles. It is not merely the world?s largest air terminal. It is the world?s largest building, period. And all 370 acres of it ? all 82 moving walkways, 97 escalators, 157 elevators, 180 check-in counters and 2,600 parking spaces ? were built with one very well-connected company in mind: Emirates, Dubai?s fast-growing flagship airline. Emirates is pressing ahead with an ambitious expansion. Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, says his airline represents the future of mass air travel.
Competitors are fighting back. SkyTeam, the global alliance that includes Delta Air Lines and Air France/KLM, said that it would add two airlines to counter Emirates? dominance in the region.