The A380 just may turn out to be the ultimate in vaporware.
Correction: The article probably meant to say only customer for the FREIGHTER version of the A380.
The A380 was aimed at very long haul point-to-point flying between major airports (who would be expected to reinforce runways & taxiways as well as re-build gates to accommodate that beast).
It was a risky gamble regardless of the structure of EADS relative to other more 'normal' companies.