Capot: What you describe is operating profit.
This can not even pay the interest payment for the plane, let alone maintenance, offices, insurance, regulatory fees, training, handling, airport fees.
Dirty Prop: What you describe is political corruption, and should be outlawed.
I still don't understand the mystique of the airline business. Why would you want to turn a fortune into a small fortune. But I guess as Tom Braniff once said, "There is no drug stronger than seeing your name on an aircraft".
He also said. "We're too big to fail", and "They'll never shut us down with this cash flow".
As for the sacked Flight Attendant. I hope she's better off without them. I wish her and her new family well.