Airbus has terminated an order for six A380s placed by Skymark Airlines of Japan, a move seen as a setback for the manufacturer as it seeks fresh orders for the superjumbo.
Skymark operates a purely domestic schedule from its base in Tokyo but had plans to begin services to London, New York, Paris and Frankfurt with the A380, which carries 500-plus passengers.
Airbus said it terminated the Skymark order “when Skymark made clear that it was not going to perform its contractual obligations”.
Skymark said it had been in talks with Airbus since April about possible changes to its A380 order but that Airbus was demanding “a cancellation fee beyond all common sense”.
The carrier reported a loss of Yen1.8 billion (£10.4 million) in the year to March, but a profit the previous year.
Airbus now has A380 orders from just 19 carriers, with Dubai-based Emirates committed to taking 140 or 40% of the total.
British Airways took delivery of its first A380 just over a year ago.
Virgin Atlantic is committed to buying six, but has delayed taking delivery and may not decide whether to proceed until 2018.
Emirates president Tim Clark called earlier this month for Airbus to produce a new version of the A380 with more fuel-efficient engines – an A380 neo.
The Gulf carrier was the launch customer for the A380 in 2008 and has 140 on order or already in operation
Clark said Emirates would buy an additional 60-80 of the aircraft if it had new engines.