Emirates places lifeline order for Airbus

TOULOUSE, France, June 14 (UPI) -- A new order for 32 Airbus A380 aircraft could be a lifeline for the double-decked plane that has had a slow sales so far, an industry analyst said.

The order by Dubai's Emirates airline "shows that all the technical kinks have been worked out. It's a major endorsement for the plane," said Michel Merluzeau, managing partner of G2 Solutions, a consulting firm, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

The multibillion-dollar order constitutes an endorsement of the plane, because Emirates is, to date, the only major customer for the massive aircraft that holds 500 passengers.

Airbus has orders for 234 planes, but from only 17 customers. Emirates has placed 40 percent of the orders for the plane, which has not found a single U.S. buyer, the Times said.

"The order raises more questions than it answers about the program. Can it continue with just one major customer?" asked industry analyst Richard Aboulafia at Teal Group Corp.

General manager of California parts supplier McStarline Co. said the sale "guarantees that we'll have work for years to come. We hope there are more big sales like this one."