Getting your player ready...
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Airbus spent a decade saying the A380, the world’s largest passenger plane, would stand up to a recession because it is cheaper to run than most other jetliners. The argument is starting to fray.
Emirates airlines, the A380’s biggest customer, said Wednesday that a drop in traffic between Dubai and New York had rendered the superjumbo unsuitable after seven months on the route. The carrier will instead switch to Boeing’s smaller 777.
Emirates, which operates four A380s, said it might delay some of the 54 still on order. Air France has postponed two deliveries, and Lufthansa will take its first two A380s in 2010 instead of this year. Kingfisher Airlines of India deferred its first delivery to 2014 from 2012.
