Singapore receives third A380

Singapore Airlines said its third Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial jet, arrived Wednesday in the city-state ahead of its deployment on the carrier's service between London and the city-state.

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the double-decker jet at the Airbus delivery center in Toulouse, France, on Tuesday, the airline said in a statement.

The carrier said that it will fly the jet daily between Singapore and London starting next Tuesday, March 18, on flights SQ322 and SQ317.

"This will be the first-ever A380 commercial service to Europe," said Singapore Airlines, which is currently the plane's sole operator.

Singapore Airlines deployed the other two A380s on daily services between Singapore and Sydney. The airline has firm orders for a further 16 such planes.

Singapore Airlines will also start flying another A380 jet, its fourth and yet to be delivered, on the Singapore-Tokyo route from May 20, the carrier said in a separate statement.

The A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines on October 15, 2007, 18 months behind schedule because of wiring problems and after billions of dollars in cost overruns for Airbus.

 

Dubai-based Emirates, the second airline to receive the superjumbo jet, will take its first delivery in August. (AP)