China Southern becomes the seventh airline to fly the Airbus A380 and as with other carriers wanting to showcase the double-decker giant, the airline's newest plane is embarking on a domestic "getting to know you" tour.

One of the world's largest aviation markets now is in possession of the world's largest commercial passenger aircraft and it's no secret that China wants to show off what has become the newest local tourist attraction, the Airbus A380.

Airbus delivered the latest A380 to China Southern Airlines on 14 October and the airline rapidly put it into service on the 17th between Beijing and Guangzhou. The aircraft will also be the star of the airline's route between Beijing and Shanghai. According to Chinese media, many passengers booked tickets far in advance of the aircraft's arrival, wanting to experience the super jumbo first hand. Of the seats selling the fastest, first class seats were snapped up by eager flyers for both routes. The airline has yet to announce any international routes for its newest aircraft.

The A380 cabin on China Southern Airlines features a total of 506 seats, including eight luxury first-class suites, 70 lie-flat business-class seats and 428 economy-class seats. While the interior comforts of the A380 include a quieter cabin and "mood" lighting to help combat jet lag, it's what the plane does on the outside that may benefit the Chinese market the most – or what it doesn't do. Despite its grand size, the A380 boasts a high degree of fuel efficiency and emits less pollution than other aircraft models.

The astounding growth of China as a global financial and industrial power is tempered by the challenges it faces to meet its energy needs while keeping its carbon footprint in check. With its ability to move greater numbers of people more efficiently, the A380 may find China the ideal place to call home.

A380 facts from Airbus:

• The A380 is 15 tonnes lighter than it would be if made entirely of metal.
• The 4400m² surface (47,361 square feet) of the A380 is covered in three layers of paint weighing around 500kg (1100lbs).
• During take-off the A380 wing will flex upwards by over 4m (13.1 feet).
• The air in the A380 cabin is changed every 3 minutes and the temperature can be selected between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius (65F-86F).
• In the first 3 years of service, around 15 million passengers have flown the A380.