I can't imagine this is news to Airbus. My friend supplies EK with aircraft interiors and he was told over a year ago by Emirates that they were not going to pursue the 350 so he (the supplier) could stop working on the project.
So for over a year now I have been telling my pilot friends to expect a slower upgrade. Now that it is official it is finally sinking in. Over 10 years to captain. Ouch!