Emirates believes Airbus can guarantee development of A380 programme

Emirates believes Airbus can meet demands from the airline’s owner, the Dubai govt, for the plane maker to guarantee development of the superjumbo A380 programme. “I am sure that if we get closer to a further order, the Airbus board will make that undertaking,” Emirates president Tim Clark said Tuesday. An anticipated order for A380 superjumbos worth US$16b failed to materialise at the last moment Sunday, forcing Emirates and Airbus into further talks to finalise a deal. Clark declined to speculate when a deal might be reached, but hinted Monday it could be a matter of weeks or months. Clark suggested that either Emirates or Flydubai could be interested in a mid-sized jet that Boeing is considering developing. <br/>