SIA to get first A380 on October 15

It has been a long, frustrating and expensive wait, but the delivery date of the first A380 to enter commercial service has finally been set at October 15.

After a dedicated delivery ceremony in Toulouse, the flagship of the 21st century will take-off for Singapore's Changi International Airport where it will be handed over to Singapore Airlines.

The new double-decker-aircraft will begin the world's first A380 commercial airline service, between Singapore and Sydney, on October 25.

The production road for the Franco-German planemaker has been rocky, with Airbus under severe pressure ever since it announced serious delays to the A380 programme last spring. The setbacks led to raft of charges, a share-price collapse and the departure of two CEOs.

There are 173 total orders and commitments for the A380 from 14 customers. The subsequent aircraft for delivery to Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Qantas are also well on track, Airbus says.