Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, four-engine wide-body passenger airliner developed by Airbus.

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, four-engine wide-body passenger airliner developed by Airbus. It is the largest passenger aircraft ever built and entered commercial service in 2007, with production ending in 2021. It is still operated by a small number of airlines, especially on high-demand long-haul routes.

Design

The A380 is a four-engine, wide-body, double-deck aircraft with a full-length upper deck. Airbus describes it as the largest passenger plane ever built, with a length of 73 metres and a wingspan of 79.8 metres.

Capacity and configuration

The aircraft can carry 853 passengers in the highest-density certified layout, but most airlines use far fewer seats. Typical commercial layouts are generally around 500 to 550 passengers, depending on cabin class mix.

Production and service history

The A380 first entered service in 2007 and production ended in 2021. Airbus says it will continue to provide support and services for in-service aircraft after production has ceased.

Commercial reception

The A380 was admired by passengers for space and comfort, but many airlines preferred smaller twin-engine aircraft because of higher operating costs and reduced flexibility. This limited the size of the global operator base.

Operators

The type has been flown by a relatively small number of airlines, with Emirates operating the largest fleet. Other operators and past operators have included Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, ANA, Korean Air and others.