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Airbus is in the process of deciding to cut production from the world's largest airliner following a downward revision of Gulf demand and is expected to review its annual results on Feb. 14, industry sources said and badysts.
The decision to close production of the A380 superjumbo sooner than expected coincides with a review of the purchases of very large aircraft by the largest customer of this aircraft, Emirates, which has a fleet of 109 superjumbos and 53 ordered.
Due to weaker demand, the Dubai airline is expected to reduce its purchases and focus more on smaller models, which could have consequences for Airbus and its US rival Boeing, sources said. sector.
Emirates is the main customer of the Airbus A380. Photo provided
Airbus and Emirates declined to comment.
The fate of the A380 superjumbo is in doubt since a vital order from Emirates collapsed following inconclusive discussions about the engine, forcing both parties to weigh an alternative that would result in a halt premature production of A380.
Emirates is the largest customer of 544-seat planes and badysts believe production is not sustainable beyond 2020 without the new Emirates order.
As part of the proposed reshuffle, Airbus hopes to negotiate an agreement that would allow Emirates to transfer part of its order to smaller models such as the A350 or the A330, while getting some A380 orders from last minute of British Airways.
Qantas has officially canceled its long-standing order for eight other superjumbos last week.
The outcome of these discussions could affect the timing of the final announcement, but Airbus will be under pressure to refine its plans in time for Thursday 's profits, following growing speculation about the timing of the announcement. future of the plane.
"The A380 is the elephant in the hangar; it will be impossible to avoid saying something about it," said Sash Tusa, an badyst at Agency Partners.
The A380 is already in the resuscitation phase due to low sales.
Any decision to unplug the iconic two-stage European aircraft after only 12 years of use must be approved by the Airbus Board of Directors, which meets on Wednesday.
The prospect of a production cutoff comes at a difficult time for Airbus as rival Boeing celebrates the 50th anniversary of its 747 jumbo, the jet that revolutionized long-haul travel and the European A380 was designed to withdraw from the market.
See: The Boeing 747 is 50 years old, but its future is dark
The 747 survives mainly as cargo and VIP transport, while a cargo version of the A380 had already been removed for lack of interest and as the only VIP version of the A380 sold to a Saudi prince had been canceled several years ago.
This left the A380 solely dependent on pbadenger demand, at a time when twin-engine jets like the Boeing 777s and A350s made the four-engine models like the A380 less popular.
Reuters
See also: Too big, too expensive: Why airlines abandon the superjumbo
See also: First A380 retired, parked in the mountains awaiting sale or salvage
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