China Southern Airlines looks set to take delivery of the first of five Airbus A380s next year, after deferring an arrival that was planned to take place just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In Toulouse this week at the Airbus’ final assembly line, mechanics mounted the vertical tail on the carrier’s maiden superjumbo.
At press time, China Southern remained the only Mainland carrier to order the A380. Rival Air China has always insisted it had no plans to acquire the aircraft because it prefers the rival Boeing B747. But it has not ruled out a change of mind in the future.
Asia-Pacific carriers with A380s on order are Singapore Airlines (already the owner of 12 A380s), Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Korean Airlines, Kingfisher, and THAI Airways.
China Southern has also 13 Boeing B787s on order.
Margie T Logarta
