The A380 was purpose built for the Airlines like Etihad which use the Hub-Model, where flights are routed through big hubs such as Dubai Airport. To run this you need huge Planes to manage the high passenger flows between the hubs. However most Airlines seem to be moving to a point-to-point model, flying directly between destinations. They utilize larger fleets of smaller planes, like the A320.
Boeing has specially designed the B787 to serve as a point-to-point plane.
Airbus has also acquired a contolling stake in Bombariers C-Series Programme in a move towards smaller planes.
I think you mean Emirates, which has over a 100 of them with nearly all routes via Dubai - there a few 5th freedoms too such as BKK-HKG. Etihad only have a handful of A380 and operate from Abu Dhabi.
The Airbus + Bombardier C-series deal was confirmed in in October 2017. In September 2017 Boeing filed a suit against Bombardier, claiming that they were selling their C-series jets to Delta at illegally low prices (less than cost of production). Seems like interesting timing for the deal, although doubtless it's good strategically anyway.
I'm not well versed in all of this, I suspect it comes down to Bombardier being able to do this due to (allegedly illegal) government subsidies rather than being about the specific act itself.
> Airbus has also acquired a contolling stake in Bombariers C-Series Programme in a move towards smaller planes.
The C-Series compares to the Embraer E-Series and the CRJ series (owned since years by Bombardier). It's meant to be more of a regional/short hop plane than a direct competitor to the A320/B737.
This is why after Airbus surprised Boeing by acquiring a majority stake in the C-Series program Boeing is now looking at acquiring a significant stake in Embraer.
The C-Series is bigger than the existing CRJ and E-series. Its largest models overlap with the smallest 737s, and definitely fits in generally with the larger point-to-point narrative, only for smaller domestic city pairs rather than international ones.
Boeing has specially designed the B787 to serve as a point-to-point plane.
Airbus has also acquired a contolling stake in Bombariers C-Series Programme in a move towards smaller planes.