Airbus A380 to make debut in China next month

Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, will land in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai in November on its maiden flight to China.

Laurence Barron, president of Airbus China, made the announcement Monday at the ongoing Airshow China 2006 in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province.

Airbus, the European giant aircraft manufacturer, had received firm orders for 159 A380 planes from 16 airlines worldwide, including China Southern Airlines, which ordered five.

Singapore Airlines, which will be the first user of the plane, gave an order for another nine A380s during the Farnborough International Airshow this July. In October, Australia-based Qantas airline ordered another eight A380s.

The superjumbo is designed to transport between 555 and 840 passengers over distances of up to 15,000 kilometers.

However, the A380 roll-out has now been delayed three times due to "wiring problems" and the first A380 is to be delivered in October, 2007.

Source: Xinhua