The clamor for seats on board the world's biggest passenger aircraft - the Airbus A380 - has prompted Singapore Airlines to auction seats on the Internet for its inaugural flight later this year. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from our Asia News Center in Hong Kong.
The flight will take place in October, from Singapore to Sydney and back.
Singapore Airlines says it decided to auction seats on the Internet site eBay because of strong global demand for tickets on the first flight. Airline spokesman Stephen Forshaw says proceeds will go to three charities, including Doctors Without Borders.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion," he noted. " We want to make this very special and in turn we wanted to give something back to the community."
Delivery of the European-made super-jumbo jet has been delayed for more than a year, but Singapore Airlines says it is confident its planes will arrive on time. The A380 can carry 555 or more passengers, compared with just over 400 for the rival Boeing 747.