Airbus commences final assembly on Asiana Airlines' first A380

Airbus, on its official Facebook page, stated (26-Sep-2013) the final assembly of the first A380 for Asiana Airlines is now underway at the Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse. The carrier separately stated (26-Sep-2013) the main sections of the aircraft arrived in recent weeks from the various manufacturing sites around Europe and are now being attached at the airframe assembly station (Station 40). The carrier said the aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2Q2014, and Asiana Airlines' will become the 12th operator of the type. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its primary routes from Seoul to the US. The carrier's A380s will be deployed with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines. [more - original PR]