Airbus Group has terminated the order for six A380s held by Japan's Skymark Airlines.
Airbus said its decision was based on “the airline’s expressed intentions for the aircraft,” adding that it “reserved all rights and remedies related to the aircraft”.
Skymark President Shinichi Nishikubo said the two sides had been in discussions over the order since April, after the carrier told Airbus it needed to change its schedule for the introduction of the aircraft because of a weaker yen and competition in the sector.
The cancellation has occurred at such a late stage that the first of Skymark’s A380s had already flown and was partially painted. The Skymark cancellation now means that the A380 has not secured a new customer in two years.
Following the announcement, Airbus Group shares dropped as much as 26 cents, or 0.6%, to €43.76. Skymark shares dropped 9.8% to 260 yen in Tokyo trading.
Nishikubo stated that Airbus had asked Skymark to become an affiliate with a larger airline as a condition for altering the order contract, then asked for a cancellation fee after the carrier rejected the request.
Airbus has not stated whether plans exist for re-marketing the aircraft.