CSA Becomes The First Chinese Operator Of The Superjumbo
Airliner
Airbus has delivered the first A380 to China Southern Airlines.
During a very special celebration ceremony held Friday at the
Airbus Delivery Center in Toulouse, France, the first out of five
aircraft ordered was handed over from Airbus President and CEO, Tom
Enders to China Southern Airlines Chairman, Si Xianmin.
China Southern Airlines becomes the first operator of the
superjumbo in China, and the 7th globally. Powered by Rolls-Royce
Trent 900 engines, the aircraft will be initially operated on
domestic routes between the major Chinese cities of Beijing,
Shanghai and Guangzhou. The airline will eventually deploy the A380
on international routes.
At the ceremony, China Southern Airlines unveiled a cabin
featuring a total of 506 seats in a typical three class
configuration, including eight luxury first-class suites, 70
lie-flat business-class seats and 428 economy-class seats.
"We are proud to become the first A380 operator in China,”
said Si Xianmin, Chairman of China Southern Airlines. “The
introduction of the A380 in our fleet is a very important step for
the development of China Southern. This most spacious and modern
aircraft enables us, to offer our passengers world-standard comfort
on our flights. The economics offered by the A380 will undoubtedly
improve our competitiveness on international routes and is the
perfect asset to make China Southern Airlines achieve its goal of
becoming a leading global carrier.”
"We offer China Southern Airlines our warmest welcome as the
newest operator of the A380," said Tom Enders, President and CEO of
Airbus. "The A380 has set new standards in comfort, economic
efficiency and environmental performance. With the A380, China
Southern Airlines will surely play a key role in the top league of
the world's leading airlines."
China’s biggest carrier has five A380s on order. This was
the 58th A380 delivered to date by Airbus. “Four years of
operation show that airlines who fly the A380 increase capacity,
gain market share and improve load factors – with an A380 now
taking off or landing every 15 minutes,” Enders said, adding
that the airliner is "well suited for the development of
China’s air transport sector." With the country’s
growing wealth and urbanization creating a demand for more than 200
such very large aircraft by 2030, “Our forecast shows China
will remain one of the fastest growing aviation markets for the
next 20 years,” he said.
The other carriers with A380s currently in their fleets are
Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa and
Korean Air. (Images courtesy Airbus)
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