Lufthansa has launched Airbus A380 flights between Frankfurt and Beijing.

Initially, the A380 will serve Beijing once a week. In coordination with Chinese authorities, Lufthansa aims to gradually increase the frequency of this service.

The A380, which bears the name Peking, will depart from Frankfurt for the Chinese capital at 17:20 under flight number LH720. After landing in Beijing at 08:30 local time on the Thursday, the return flight (LH 721) will leave Beijing on at 10:30 to arrive at Frankfurt the same day at 14:30.

In the Lufthansa configuration, the Airbus A380 can seat up to 526 passengers. The aircraft features eight First Class and 98 Business Class seats on the upper deck as well as 420 seats Economy Class on the main deck.

On 12 September 2010, Lufthansa will launch flights to its third A380 destination, Johannesburg. The city will be served twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays.