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Airbus threatens to 'shut down' A380 production after poor sales
European aircraft giant Airbus would cease production of its A380 superjumbo aircraft if its main customer Emirates did not order any more planes, outgoing sales chief John Leahy said on Monday.
"If we can't work out a deal with Emirates, there is no choice but to shut down the programme," Leahy told reporters in Paris as the company reported 2017 orders.
However, Leahy, who will retire this month, said the company could have an order for the double decker plane "within the next month or two" with an unnamed new customer.
Airbus delivered 15 380s last year, with 12 scheduled for this year and eight in 2019, said chief executive Fabrice Bregier.
said.
Airbus revealed that a late rush of orders in December, 776, brought the 2017 total to a better than expected 1,109 and 718 deliveries, beating fierce US rival Boeing which reported 912 orders and 763 deliveries.