EMIRATES THROWS AIRBUS A LIFELINE WITH $16B DEAL

Emirates airline announced Thursday that it has reached a $16 billion deal to buy 20 Airbus A380s with an option for 16 more. The deal is a breakthrough for Airbus, whose double-decked A380 faced an uncertain future amid weak sales. Last week, Airbus sales chief John Leahy acknowledged that the jetmaker could end production of the A380 airliner if it did not soon win new orders.