Airbus

Airbus has said it is expecting to sell nearly 32 A380 superjumbos by next year.

The company has been struggling to find buyers for its flagship aircraft A380 double-decker. For more than two years, a new customer has not been signed on for the aircraft, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Airbus sales chief John Leahy said to Bloomberg that two potential customers are considering ordering the planes, one of whom is interested in 20 aircraft and the other in 12. Both potential customers are airlines and the orders may be secured this year.

Airbus jetliner unit CEO Fabrice Brégier was quoted by The Wall Street Journal saying: "We have some very active campaigns and I believe a few will materialise.

"We have to convince the airlines that this is an aircraft which is extremely competitive, provided you find the good routes, you market it appropriately and you redistribute your hub in a way you attract passengers."

The list price of A380 is $428m. Buyers are concerned over the commercial viability of the plane, which is currently the world’s biggest passenger aircraft with a 540-seat capacity.

Emirates Airline is the largest buyer of A380, which requested Airbus to upgrade the jet. Airbus has put a stop on commencing a development programme.

Emirates president Tim Clark was quoted by CNBC saying: "We are working with Airbus with regards to trying to improve the A380.

"There is a template on the drawing board and they are ready to go. They’ve just got to get the commercial aspects of it done."

Emirates ordered 140 superjumbo A380, out of which 50 orders were placed in 2013.

Some buyers including Lufthansa and Air France have reduced orders for A380. Virgin Atlantic, which ordered the plane, said it cancelled its plan to take the order.

Last year, Airbus also lost a contract with Japan’s Skymark Airlines for A380.

Image: Airbus is expecting to sell nearly 32 A380 superjumbos by next year. Photo: courtesy of Airbus.