Emirates is a fully commercial, unsubsidised business which is independently managed and audited.
Having done quite a bit of work with EK this certainly appears the case. Indeed EK appears to have operated without Government subsidies for its entire life.
But I thought they go their fuel for nothing?
Why keep rehashing this drivel... firstly Dubai does not have that much oil as to give it to anyone for free. EK buys their fuel like anyone else!
But where they do have advantages are they don't have the same layers of Government red tape & taxes that QF has. Plus they don't have the "burden" of the Australian industrial laws.
Although EK work their people pretty hard, and the ones I know might bitch about work conditions, they are in no hurry to give up the pay and perks.
What EK do have over QF is a brilliant leader in Tim Clark (and likewise Gary Chapman at Dnata)