Airbus delivers China Southern Airlines’ first A380

Airbus has delivered (14-Oct-2011) the first of five A380s to China Southern Airlines. China Southern becomes the first operator of the A380 in China and the seventh globally, with the newly delivered A380 the 58th A380 delivered to date by Airbus. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, the aircraft will be initially operated on domestic routes between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Later on, the airline will deploy the A380 on unannounced international routes. The carrier will operate the A380 on Beijing-Guangzhou sector on 18-Oct-2011 in its first test flight. The carrier has configured its A380s with 506 seats in a three class configuration, including eight first-class suites, 70 lie-flat business class seats and 428 economy class seats. The carrier also stated its second A380 is currently undergoing cabin refurbishment. [more - original PR] [more - original PR II]