Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) is in separate talks with HNA Group and Emirates regarding their respective order books, Reuters has reported.
In its 3Q18 financials, the European manufacturer said it had to resolve "certain commercial challenges" in its A330ceo and A380 programmes that are targeted for completion by the year-end.
Sources familiar with developments subsequently told the news agency that among the issues Airbus was facing included the delivery of A330ceo jets to the cash-strapped Chinese conglomerate's various airline units.
According to Bloomberg, HNA has courted ICBC Financial Leasing and Minsheng Financial Leasing over the potential sales/lease back of at least ten A330s it currently has on order from Airbus. Given HNA's well-known liquidity issues, Airbus halted deliveries to some of HNA’s subsidiary airlines in the first half of the year because of non-payment, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg in July. However, seven A330s have since been delivered to HNA airlines as of the end of September.
Concerning Emirates, Reuters said Airbus's talks with the carrier focussed on the timing of its undelivered A380-800s which, as of September 30, numbered 57. The Dubai-based carrier is the largest operator of the type in the world.
In early October, Bloomberg again reported that Emirates' order for twenty-five Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered A380s could be delayed beyond 2020 after engines delivered failed to meet performance requirements, price and fuel burn in particular.
