Singapore - Singapore Airlines (SIA) is increasing its A380 services on the Singapore-London route to "double daily" starting September 20, the carrier said on Wednesday.

The second flight of the superjumbo will depart Singapore as SQ318, and return from London as SQ321.

A third daily flight will continue to be operated by a Boeing 747-400 "for the time being," SIA's statement said.

The twice-a-day A380 service is currently flying four times weekly. Following the delivery of a sixth A380 to SIA from manufacturer Airbus in September, the second daily flight will also be added on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, every day of the week.

SIA first started daily A380 operations between the city-state and London in March, and increased frequency to 11 times a week in mid-July.

The route "becomes the first in the world to be operated double daily" by the A380, SIA said.

The plane also flies daily to Sydney and Tokyo.

Emirates became the second airline to receive its first A380 on Tuesday.

SIA has firm orders for 13 more A380s and options on another six. (dpa)