Emirates has not said much about why it cancelled its order for 70 Airbus A350s, but a senior executive from the Dubai-based airline speaking to analysts and reporters last week in New York shortly after the cancellation was announced offered some insight. He insisted Emirates did not cancel the order because it has suddenly decided that its belief in the future potential of the air passenger market in the Middle East has dimmed. And he hinted that, unlike the rest of the airline industry, Emirates simply prefers the larger A380 to the A350.