China Southern reported set for 380 order

China Daily reported that China Southern Airlines would sign an order this week for five Airbus 380 super-jumbos for delivery in 2007, making it the mainland's first carrier to order the double-deckers. The newspaper said China Southern, the country's largest airline, would use the planes to originate more international flights out of Beijing, ahead of the 2008 Olympics. At list price, the order is worth US$1.4bn, but the planes should come at a good discount, given China Southern's role in cracking the China market for 380s.