I suspect the airport view the 8 million to be an investment in positive P R and a hope for greater interest in the airport and not only just money spent on a new asset, that will generally only benefit one airline. I am sure AGS will be acutely aware that such a milestone is not going to be replicated by their peers over at EDI any time soon, which probably only increases their drive to get this aircraft operating soon. Whether you're a 380 fan or not, the machine does turn heads, get people talking and generate interest and all at a time that is rather lacklustre for GLA.
This is a high stakes situation for AGS as EK pax throughput at GLA has dipped around 15% for the first two months after EDI started. If demand doesn't exceed 'pre-EDI' numbers with the A380 then it does raise the question if there is a need for the aircraft for the time being at least?
If for any reason the A380 is not the success that it is hoped to be, then it will be a far more painful result for AGS than it will be for EK.