A350-1000 - MSN290 (EY #1) A6-XWB

In fact, the 'scoop' is from one unknown poster on A.net who claims to be an insider. He may be right, or he may be out of the loop since, as I pointed out in my previous post, both sides have suppressed all leaks so far.

As regards the lack of any pilot training, this is the kind of step an airline would take while it negociates a last minute order deferment or cancellation - 'you see how determined I am' ... That would indeed delay entry into service if later there was an agreement, but not for long, since EY already has Airbus pilots who would need only a short training.

As for the poster's assertion that EY might take five A35Ks that would not actually enter the fleet, I am very skeptical since I have seen purchase contracts linking discounts on list price to continuous use of the aircraft in airline service for a number of years (often five years). As Airbus has no interest in seeing new A350s offloaded onto the the market, I doubt it would so easily let EY off the hook.