I think when you deconstruct the spin doctoring, the figures are somewhat askew.
VB contracts out and outsources a lot of it's work (engineering, etc). AN didn't.
VB has a single class fleet. AN didn't (meaning many different areas looking after different fleets).
VB does not own any regional airlines. AN owned KD and ZL, and in the later part, YC.
VB does not really have any long haul international operations, whereas, you guessed it, AN did.
Apples and oranges - certainly more profitable apples I grant you!