I suppose when you write "the likes of British Airways", that actually includes British Airways? In which case that airline has received state aid, in the form of a government backed loan. You may also wish to have a look at every single US and European major who, in one form or the other, have received state aid in order to stay afloat (aloft?) for the last year and a half.
I get that you don't like the A380 or EK, and that's fair enough - we all have your preferences and dislikes. I have enjoyed flying EK over the years, and always the most when the service was operated by an A380.