Singapore Airlines (SIA) will use one of its giant Airbus A380 jets to temporarily increase capacity to Beijing ahead of the summer Olympics, the airline said on Wednesday.

Starting on August 2, the superjumbo will be deployed on one of SIA's three daily flights between Singapore and Beijing, SIA said in a news release.

The daily A380 service will continue for one week until August 8 when a Boeing 777 will resume its flights, SIA said.

SIA is the first airline to fly the A380, the largest airliner ever built. Last month it took delivery of its fourth double-decker superjumbo which is to begin service to Tokyo on May 20.

SIA already flies A380s to Sydney and London.

The aircraft can carry 853 people but SIA restricts seating to 471 passengers, and includes 12 suites with full beds.

AFP