Airbus seeks earlier orders of new A380s from Emirates

Airbus wants Emirates to pull forward deliveries of new A380 superjumbos to help it fill a gap after 2019 that could undermine the sustainability of the struggling aircraft. Sir Tim Clark, president of the carrier, said that the aircraft maker was seeking a pledge from Emirates “to place orders possibly over that time line which gives them the certainty that their production line will be sustained”. The two sides are locked in negotiations over a US$15b order for the aircraft after a last minute hitch scuppered the planned announcement of a deal for more than 36 passenger jets Sunday. Its fate is critical to Emirates’ expansion plans, but also to Airbus which has invested billions in the programme. The Dubai govt is demanding a guarantee that Airbus will maintain production for 10 to 15 years after it receives the last of its current orders for the superjumbo in 2022.<br/>