Airbus Updates No.98/11

China Southern's first A380 makes maiden flight

China Southern Airlines' first Airbus A380 made its maiden flight on 3 March to Hamburg from Toulouse, after completing final assembly and system tests.

The aircraft is at Airbus' facilities in Hamburg now to undergo cabin installation and painting. It will be delivered later this year to China Southern, which will be the seventh A380 operator.

The Guangzhou-based carrier has ordered five A380s, which will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.