The sensational Airbus superjumbo A380 will not make it to Guangzhou before the 2010 Asian Games.

It has been learned from the China Southern Airlines' higher management that the delivery of A380 has been further postponed to 2011, when Airbus will hand over its first A380 jet to China.

Lack of passengers, airports' unqualified accommodating facilities, as well as the aircraft's own technical failures have previously resulted in several delivery delays of the world's largest passenger jet. The Toulouse based aircraft maker, whose technical problems directly leads to the delay, will have to pay China Southern a US$250 million compensation for the postponement.

Regarding this delayed transaction, China Southern's President Si Xianmin says: "The slack market demand forces us to regulate our transportation capability, which includes phasing out old models and postponing the new aircrafts' delivery, such as A380." Si Xianmin also indicates that the financial crisis has remarkably reduced international travelers, "and as to A380 jets, designed more for intercontinental flights, a postponed delivery is the best option for us."

A380 also requires special ground support, like extra sized parking aprons and different terminal bridges. "The airport is upgrading its facilities, including the packing area particularly for A380", says an airport higher official.

Several delivery postponements have occurred to Airbus A380 thus far; the jet model is still considered immature.

China Southern is one of the airline companies still in the queue for A380 delivery, while the only A380 jets in operation belong to Singapore Airlines.

For more information, please consult the original coverage in Chinese at:

http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/200907/09/t20090709_19493118.shtml

(China.org.cn by Maverick Chen, July 9, 2009)