Airbus to Lose Money on A380?

An American study suggests Airbus will lose $8 billion over the commercial life of the A380 and will never repay $4 billion of subsidies paid by the EU taxpayers.

This is not the first time someone suggested projected sales of A380 were overly optimistic. Airbus bets that the existing 'hub system', for which the A380 is designed, will prevail, although point-to-point flights (preferred by the punters and the low cost airlines) are on the rise.

If Airbus lose, this will be the second time the EU governments tried to pick a market winner in the airline industry (Concorde was the first attempt) and failed while gambling away the taxpayers' money. Which is fine, except no one has ever asked the taxpayers if they wish to invest in Airbus.