Or the reverse, Airbus talking allot about stopping production knowing that Emirates built their business case around the plane....
Absolutely. Emirates needed this deal just as much as Airbus. At the end of the day AB has multiple other profitable lines to fall back on, especially their cash cow 32X program. For Emirates the 380 is irreplaceable, not even by the 777-10, if it was even flying yet, which it isn't.
I have no doubt EK got a good deal but Leahy isn't stupid. He was playing hardball too.
And interestingly, it has not been specified yet whether this order is for the current model or the plus..
For an airline not to do so would be economic suicide.
Also has the side benefit of locking in gradual prices increases for the manufacturer.