China Southern Airlines, the first Chinese operator to fly the Airbus A380 aircraft, has signed a contract with Airbus for customized Flight Hour Services (FHS) for its fleet of five A380s, scheduled to be in service from the second half of 2011.

Airbus will deliver to China Southern Airlines a tailor-made FHS solution supported by the benchmark Airbus worldwide customer services system. This long-term agreement guarantees on-site availability of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), related logistics and maintenance services for China Southern Airlines, which joins the club of growing Airbus FHS customers in Asia.

“The introduction of Airbus A380s and the Airbus A380 FHS to China Southern Airlines extends a long and successful partnership with Airbus. The fully customised Airbus Flight Hour Services solution for our A380 fleet will contribute to securing the highest service level our passengers are accustomed to,” said Dong Suguang Executive Vice President Maintenance and Engineering of China Southern Airlines.

“With its introduction of Airbus A380s and becoming the first customer in China to operate this aircraft, China Southern Airlines again exhibits its innovative vision and excellent judgment. The A380 is the ideal aircraft to meet the demands of the fast growing travel market in China and Airbus FHS underlines our full commitment to service excellence,” said Pierre Steffen, Senior Vice President Customer Service and Operations Airbus China.

“This agreement reinforces Airbus strong commitment to be integrally involved from aircraft choice, the entry into service and onwards securing the daily operations of our Airbus customers,” said Didier Lux, Executive Vice President Customer Services of Airbus.

By the end of March 2011, China Southern Airlines operates the largest Airbus aircraft fleet in China, which includes 169 A320 Family and 18 A330s. In 2005, China Southern Airlines placed a firm order for five A380s, becoming the first Chinese airline to order the double-decker.

EADS press release