In April, Airbus executives admitted that output in 2017 could be as low as 20 aircraft. This is far below the 30 aircraft needed for annual recurring breakeven (this excludes program nonrecurring costs; there is no way to even begin to recover the $25-30 billion or so invested in the development of this aircraft)
Uhhh...I don't think you had to be a rocket surgeon to figure out that it was never going to make money for EADS. They admitted as much early on. (Surely most know by now that everything the EU touches is strictly not-for-profit?)
And IF it has made money for EK, even that could be viewed as a sort of subsidy due to extreme discounting at the launch not to mention the massive delay penalties. Knowing the modus operandi of the screw-tighteners at EK, all absorbed by the manufacturer. Good for EK short-term, but not exactly sustainable.
It was kind of amusing to watch Capn Rex trying to pedant Wiz to death only to have this article stick the dagger in.