Genex - the US Legacy carriers you talk about had existing finacial issues. Throw in a hull loss and terrorist parnoia and the punters won't travel. Managers hide behind chapter 11 and the deck of cards fall.
Poor old Pan Am obviously had financial issues and also suffered from the Lockerby bombing.
QF will remain in good shape for a long time provided the pacific remains as regulated as it is..... and god willing no hull losses.
Learn from history........ JPA will get you less. GD and AJ will sell you loads of BS and scaremongering.