The first Singapore Airlines A380 superjumbo, the world's biggest passenger aircraft, arrived in Beijing on Saturday with the first members of Singapore's Olympic delegation.

SIA is to fly the A380 daily from Singapore to Beijing until Friday, when the Olympic Games open, in a week of special Olympic flights to cater for increased demand.

The first flight, carrying 385 customers and 25 crew, left Changi Airport at 8:40am and arrived at 2:50pm with 12 athletes and 18 officials from Team Singapore led by chef de mission Tan Eng Liang. They are part of the largest Singapore team to take part in the Games since 1956.

SIA revert to the Boeing 777 aircraft after Friday.

SIA was the first airline in the world to fly the A380, putting it into service in October last year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)