Just to add some FACTS to the argument:
As a Line Skipper (been here less than 7 years), I will TAKE HOME circa 40,000dhs or about $12,000 CAD per month. When you backwards correct for Canadian tax at 29%, that comes out at around $200,000 CAD pa. Assume I take the accommodation allowance (or free company Villa) of $70,000 CAD pa (again backwards taxed), you can see that as a junior line shag Captain, I'm earning more than a senior Air Canada A330 Jock......!! Before you cry pension, schooling, and medical AND dental, yes all of that is covered as well! Perhaps that's why we have over 300 Canadian Pilots working here??
EK does NOT get free landing fees at DXB
EK does NOT get free fuel (if we did, wouldn't we tanker out of DXB all the time??). Due to refining limitations in the UAE, Jet A1 is imported from Singapore!
EK does NOT receive state funding. Aside from the fact that Dubai doesn't have any spare cash, EK has been highly profitable in every year but 1 of its 25 year history.... It pays a dividend TO the Government of Dubai ($400m this year alone!).
EK funds its Aircraft using regular banking sources like any other Airline.
These FACTS can be openly viewed on the EK website in the Annual Report (which incidentally is INDEPENDENTLY audited by Price Waterhouse Coopers).
Yes EK doesn't pay any form of Corporation Tax (part of operating in a Tax free environment).
EK probably pays less than market rate for land rent on its buildings and services.
It has overall cheaper labour costs than most competitors. For the cost of 1 baggage handler at YYZ, you will get 10 here!
The entire point being, why the hell should any Government (much less any single Airline) dictate to its population how AND who with they must spend their money? Is that not an example of a Nanny State at its finest? If people want spend their money and travel a certain way, then let them.... its called competition!! There IS demand.
You don't hear the UK government or BA/Virgin/BMI crying into their beer about unfair competition from EK's 14 flights a day to the UK do you?? That's because they have actually taken time to look at the facts!! Something it appears most of you Cry Babies would be well served to do!
