Deano, EK don't give a stuff about the residuals on A380s, which is why they sell a bunch of them to unsuspecting Korean investors. It is getting harder as they are wording up on residual risk - at least one deal fell apart - but this rumoured deal would do nothing to change that equation. Add to it, the EK A380s that are coming off-lease soon have the wrong engine type and the reconfiguration costs will be HUGE.
Better use of capital would be 787-9s for JQ/3K to go SIN-Europe, but with Norwegian and Scoot playing that game, I can't see it happening.