Airbus Superjumbo may get lifeline as Emirates mulls 20-jet deal

Emirates, the biggest operator of Airbus SE’s A380 superjumbo, is in talks about the purchase of 20 more of the double-decker jets in a move that could extend the lifespan of a program dogged by slow sales, people familiar with the discussions said. The contract would be worth $8.7b before discounts, though negotiations are at an early stage and it hasn’t been established exactly how many aircraft the Persian Gulf carrier requires, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. Airbus might also be required to commit to measures to make the A380 more efficient before a deal is signed. Emirates could reach an agreement to acquire the planes before the end of 2017 for deliveries starting in 2020, two people said. That would hand Airbus a lifeline in maintaining production at a level where it can break even on each jet, after the company warned this week it would have to cut output further in the absence of new orders this year. Emirates said an email it has no plans “at this time” to buy more A380s, though regularly engages with manufacturers on “product updates and enhancement of current and future aircraft.” A spokesman for Airbus said it doesn’t comment on confidential client discussions.<br/>