China Southern Airlines' first Airbus A380 has entered the final phase of flight and ground tests at Airbus's Hamburg facility.
The airframer will conduct thorough checks on all cabin systems, galleys, air flow and air conditioning as well as lavatories, lighting, seats and inflight entertainment systems, said Airbus parent company EADS.
In addition, Airbus will perform advanced general performance tests on the aircraft before it moves to Toulouse for pre-delivery checks, added the company.
China Southern's A380, which makes the carrier the seventh operator of the type, will commence operations in late 2011.
The SkyTeam Alliance member will operate its A380s on daily domestic Beijing-Guangzhou and Beijing-Shanghai Hongqiao services.
China Southern's first international A380 service will be on the Guangzhou-Paris route.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
