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Boeing gets subsidies in the form of tax breaks from the State of Washington to the tune of $8.7 billion over 16 years. (Seattle Times, November 12, 2013) Airbus gets subsidies as well from European governments.
A far cry from the loan Bombardier got from Canada, and investment from Quebec Province.
If anything, the sale of aircraft to Delta amounts to nothing more than a loss leader, which is common practice in many businesses today. You see it in retail stores, you see it at car dealers. Nothing new. Get customers in the door and hope for additional purchases at full price.