In an elaborate ceremony featuring dancers and music Friday morning, China Southern Airlines took delivery of their first Airbus A380.
The event marked the first superjumbo Airbus has delivered to a Chinese airline, and China Southern becomes the seventh airline in the world to operate the massive airliner. It was the first of five A380s ordered by China Southern.
China Southern’s new bird is outfitted in a fairly typical configuration for A380 operators, sporting a total of 506 seats in a three class setup: Eight first class suites, 70 lie-flat business seats, and 428 economy class chairs. Mood lighting and personal IFE at every seat seal the deal. The plane also offers accessible seating and lavatories for disabled passengers.
China Southern will initially operate the new A380 (registered B-6136) dubbed “Pearl of the Skies” on domestic service between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It will later see long-haul action to other continents.
