Airbus delivers A380 to China Southern
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China.org.cn, October 15, 2011
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The first Airbus A380 delivered to China Southern Airlines is parked in front of the Airbus Delivery Center during a ceremony in Colomiers near Toulouse October 14, 2011. |
China Southern Airlines Co Ltd became the first Chinese operator of the Airbus A380 as Airbus delivered the superjumbo to the Chinese carrier at a handover ceremony on Friday at the Airbus Delivery Center in Toulouse.
The aircraft was the first out of five A380 ordered by China Southern in 2005 and scheduled to be delivered before 2013.
China Souther Airlines will begin operating the aircraft on domestic routes between Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai from October 17 and launch international fights in December when a second aircraft is delievered.
The China Southern A380 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trend-900 engines and feature a 506-seat cabin, including 8 luxury first-class suites, 70 flat-bed business-class seats and 428 economy-class seats.
The ticket price will be the same as other aircraft flying on routes. The price of an economy class seat between Beijing and Guangzhou is 1,700 yuan (US$266).
"The economics offered by the A380 will undoubtedly improve our competitiveness on international routes and it is the perfect asset to help China Southern Airlines achieve its goal of becoming a leading global carrier," Si said.
Since entering service in 2007, the eco-friendly A380 has transported some 16 million passengers to date, according to Airbus.
The superjumbo's spacious cabin provides carriers higher-than-average capacity and increased profitability. Typically seating 525 passengers in a three-class layout, the A380 is capable of flying 8,300 nautical miles or 15,300km per flight.
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