Calligula
I doubt very much that EK pilot costs are higher than Qantas. QF basic salary is spectacularly higher than EK, it is just that the Government takes a lot in tax. Then you have to add workers compensation, payroll tax, super etc and i think you will find that the cost to QF for a pilot is probably more than EK. At EK housing is capped at a max of 115,000dhs which is about 41000, education is 26000dhs per child up to 3 children in primary and 42000dhs per child in secondary, so taking the worst case of 3 kids in secondary (which is rare) the max cost of education is 45000, medical is covered, but that equates to the value of your medical insurance at home which is a couple of grand.
So an EK skipper on an average of 30000dhs/mth runs at around $120 grand plus 12% for provident fund 42 for housing plus 45 (worst case) for education and we have around 220k. How many QF skippers are costing less than that?
Then take into account the pilots without families who cost nothing for education or medical and you get the picture. Certainly at best it would be line ball.