[businessprofessor]

The A380 was always a jobs program. Airbus has received huge subsidies for the A380 program. Airbus is an extension of the French and German governments. A commercial company could never have justified the investment. With an honest accounting, the payback period may be 30 years. The payback period and cost of capital are secondary issues. No commercial company could have raised and justified the capital for both the A380 and A350.

[Lou L]

Great summary of the program.