Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) has confirmed its has cancelled a Skymark Airlines (BC, Tokyo Haneda) order for six A380-800s. As reported previously, the first of the aircraft, JA380A (cn 162), was to have been delivered in either August or September, and has already conducted its initial flight tests.
"Following discussions with Skymark Airlines and in light of the airline’s expressed intentions in respect of the A380, Airbus has in accordance with its contractual rights, notified Skymark Airlines that the purchase order for the six A380s signed in 2011 has been terminated. Airbus is reserving all its rights and remedies," the European manufacturer said in a statement.
However, the Japanese domestic LCC's CEO Shinichi Nishikubo said in his own statement that the airline had worked hard to make their USD1.7billion A380 project a reality but given the recent economic downturn and a weak Japanese Yen to boot, had been forced to reconsider those plans. He then attempted to place the blame on Airbus' shoulders claiming they had not been flexible in their contractual negotiations.
"Since April this year we have been discussing amending the A380 purchase agreement with Airbus, but it has been a very tough negotiation and we still cannot find any solution satisfying each other[sic]. This is because one of their several requirements for the amendment is that we have to go under the umbrella of a major airline," he said.
Nishikubo bombastically labelled Airbus' demand as "threatening" to his airline's managerial independence while simultaneously calling the manufacturer's cancellation compensation claims of USD700million "outrageous" and "beyond the realm of common sense".
