Rumour(!) has it that EK's 90 A380's was a "shock and awe" tactic played on the industry - apparently the length of the delivery schedule is such that the second 45 airframes are just replacements for the first 45.
Rumour #2 EK have four A380's sitting at Toulouse and they are refusing to take delivery "until the wings are fixed" but the real reason is a business slowdown.
Anyone from the sandpit care to confirm the above?
As for the Sonic Crusier - one sexy beast:
and proposed performance here:
HowStuffWorks "How Sonic Cruisers Will Work"
The official reason Boeing dropped the Sonic Cruiser was the price of fuel but there was some speculation at the time that Boeing was never serious and the whole thing was an elaborate ploy by Boeing to distract Airbus while the real game changer - the 787 program "slipped under the radar".
Of course the 787 program hasn't quite gone as well as Boeing had hoped - at least they have a huge order book to try and make a $ at the end of the day.