SIA A380 to make first commercial flight in October

    SINGAPORE, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Singapore Airlines (SIA), the country's flag carrier, announced on Thursday that its Airbus A380 jet will make its maiden commercial flight to Sydney on Oct. 25 after the airline receives delivery of the first A380 jet in mid-October.

    According to a statement by SIA, the airline and Airbus have agreed to a delivery timetable for the first A380 aircraft on Oct.15 at a ceremony in Toulouse, France, and the SIA A380 jet will then make its first flight to Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport on Oct. 25.

    SIA's Chief Executive Officer Chew Choon Seng described the delivery as the beginning of a new chapter for the aviation industry.

    SIA, which will be the first in the world to receive delivery of the Airbus A380 jet, said that SQ380, its first flight, will be configured to seat 471 passengers in three classes.

    The airline also announced that all proceeds from the sale of tickets on the first flight will be donated to charities, and the charity auction is to start on Aug. 27.

    To date, Airbus has received 154 orders and commitments from 15customers. SIA has an order for 19 planes of A380, which can seat up to more than 800 passengers and is the largest passenger airliner in the world.