Not sure about the others, but Emirates receives billions of dollars in government subsidies, including 7.8 billion in government money to fund a terminal for the airline in Dubai. Maybe if we taxed citizens here the way we should we'd have the kind of transportation infrastructure that has become the standard the world over. But that's for another discussion.
As an aviation engineer, I could answer these questions, but I really really don't want to bore you guys with info on safety parameters, fuel pricing or deregulation. I will say that you're very close to the answer with your subsidy post. Until the early 1970's, US government HEAVILY regulated airline travel. Once they deregulated it, stopped subsidizing it basically, the airlines had to rely on actually producing a business model that had to turn a profit. This, in turn, opened up the floodgates for more airline company startups, making the market more competitive. So, you can see where I'm going with this.
Government intervention through subsidization is, and always will be a disaster. Look at once private companies such as the Post Office (yes the post office) and Amtrak. Both private companies were effectively seized by the government and since the day the government effectively 'owned' them, they have never once turned a profit. Amtrak is also remarkably late, all the time, and relies on another heavily subsidized company they 'own' called Greyhound to supplement the backed up train schedules through other mediums.
Back to the point. Countries around the world use the airline flight attendants and new planes to basically act as tourism brochures for their countries, trying to attract people to visit their respective country and fly their airline. So, their governments pump billions into their National airline brands just like US states run commercials for Come to California, or Virginia is for Lovers ad campaigns, to attract business...
That said, I've flown all over the world with many different airlines, and I know this; You will NEVER, get me on another AEROFLOT or a ALITALIA aircraft again. Let's just say that many struggling countries don't really conduct the proper maintenance cycles on their aircraft. And the socialist and other repressed countries around the world that don't pay their engineers and maintainers a fair wage for their highly skilled trade aren't putting their 'all' into their work. Scary stuff out there.
Bottom line. The US has the strictest safety standards for aviation in the world. Couple that with deregulation, union costs, and general volatile oil prices and the heavy cost of keeping planes up to date with the latest and greatest safety features that the FAA mandates, all the while trying to turn a profit, you can see why we have on average 50 year old women (and men) wearing drab (yet functional) uniforms, get barely a bag of peanuts and a can of coke.
Last little factoid for you. Some flights that are completely sold out still only cut a profit margin of around $100..
Sorry for the long post, I hope I didn't lose any of you along the way..
