Airbus SE is in talks to sell new A380 superjumbo planes to British Airways this year after securing a program-saving deal with Emirates, according to people familiar with the matter.
The U.K. carrier, a unit of IAG SA, has said in the past that it was looking for six to seven second-hand A380s. Instead, it’s looking at new ones, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Refurbishing used models of the 500-seat behemoth for BA’s needs is too expensive, one of the people said.
Airbus, based in Toulouse France, and IAG declined to comment.