[nickik]

It was only ever close to profit because it didn't have to finance its own development.

[kenneth]

It's not necessary to account for R&D costs if the R&D has other benefits (e.g. putting Airbus on the map as an alternative manufacturer to Boeing, giving Europe technology with military implications independent of its reliance on the USA, etc.)

[bobthepanda]

The context is pretty clearly talking about operating profit, not the profitability of the program as a whole.