Singapore  - Singapore Airlines said Thursday that it would start using the Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft on its route to Hong Kong starting July 9.

"The daily A380 flights will replace an existing daily [Boeing] B777-300ER service to Hong Kong," the airline said in a statement.

Hong Kong would be the fifth destination worldwide to which Singapore Airlines operates the A380.

The airline was the first in the world to use the superjumbo, starting A380 flights to Sidney in October 2007 and later adding services to London, Tokyo and Paris.

For the service to Hong Kong, the airline would use an A380 with 471 seats, the company said.

Singapore Airlines currently has eight A380 aircraft in use and has another 11 on firm order and options for six more. (dpa)