EK already get a ~30% discount on A380s - unless Airbus is going to get a per-unit loss on A380s (I mean, the programme breakeven point is probably never going to get reached anyway), then there isn't much scope for it to go lower.

On top that, as EK always finance their purchases, we have to look at the expected weakness of the A380 secondary market to see if they will even get any good terms on it.

I think it's just a negotiating strategy by EK to see if they can get better hot climate performance out of Airbus, if any, imho.