Airbus is discontinuing production of the A380 super-sized jumbo jet after sales failed to meet targets. The production of the vehicle was a point of contention between the European consortium and the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing, who refused to construct such a huge plane for economic reasons. It seems Boeing has won in the end.
According to CNBC, the last Airbus A380 will be delivered in 2021 to the UAE. The Gulf emirate reduced orders recently which led to the Airbus decision.
"As a result of this decision we have no substantial A380 backlog and hence no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years. This leads to the end of A380 deliveries in 2021," Airbus CEO Tom Enders said in a statement on Thursday.
"The consequences of this decision are largely embedded in our 2018 full year results," Enders said, reported CNBC.
"Emirates has been a staunch supporter of the A380 since its very inception," HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, said in a statement on Thursday. "While we are disappointed to have to give up our order, and sad that the programme could not be sustained, we accept that this is the reality of the situation."
The Boeing Dreamliner has secured massive orders as the smaller, more fuel-efficient jet has won the hearts of airline CEOs around the world.
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