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)

FMI: www.airbus.com