Marketing hype or genuine possibility?. Personally I have a feeling that the bird has flown on any chance for the A380 to be a commercial success.
The head of Airbus' aircraft operations has mounted a strong defence of the troubled A380 super-jumbo jet, claiming its "best years are ahead of us".
Tom Williams insisted the A380's absence from the Farnborough Airshow had nothing to do with falling sales.
It's the first time in more than a decade that the flagship aircraft has been absent from the global showcase.
An Emirates Airline order for A380s earlier this year has helped bolster the programme, but speculation about its future won't go away.
The European aircraft manufacturer, whose wings are made in the UK, has become dependent on the Dubai-based airline to keep A380 production alive.
But one of the costliest aircraft projects ever undertaken has been battling for customers ever since the first plane was delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2007.
Production has been cut several times as airlines shunned the plane due to high operating costs and competition from more efficient, but smaller, rival aircraft. Airbus is expected to make just eight A380s next year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44867749