If they purchased an option then Virgin paid for it. Optioning purchases is a common instrument traded in aviation finance. The option to buy this aircraft at s

If they purchased an option then Virgin paid for it. Optioning purchases is a common instrument traded in aviation finance. The option to buy this aircraft at some point in the future at a price specified today is worth a lot. The fact that it's a moonshot only means the price of the option would be reduced. If the plane is as magnificent as promised, Boom's order books will be filled for decades and other airlines will be second in line to Virgin.