IATA 380

Airbus A380

Airbus

TravelerPulse profile

World's largest commercial passenger aircraft, a double-deck giant.

First flight

2005

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

555 (3-class typical); up to 853 (all-economy)

Range

15,200 km

Engines

Four turbofan engines; Engine Alliance GP7200 or Rolls-Royce Trent 970

Status

In service

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner developed by Airbus. It is the world's largest commercial passenger aircraft, featuring two full-length passenger decks and capable of carrying over 500 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, or up to 853 in an all-economy layout. The A380 entered commercial service in 2007 with Singapore Airlines and was designed to alleviate congestion at major hub airports by maximizing passenger capacity per flight. It features advanced composite materials, which account for approximately 25% of its structural weight, contributing to improved fuel efficiency relative to its size. Despite its technical achievements, the A380 faced commercial challenges as airlines increasingly favored smaller, more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets for point-to-point routes. Airbus announced the end of A380 production in 2019, with the final delivery made in 2021, though the aircraft continues to operate with numerous carriers worldwide.

Notable operators

Major operators include Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and Korean Air.

Notable facts

›The A380 is the world's largest commercial passenger aircraft by passenger capacity.
›Its maiden flight took place on 27 April 2005 from Toulouse, France.
›Airbus ceased A380 production in 2019, with the last delivery in 2021.
›The aircraft has a wingspan of approximately 79.75 metres (261.7 ft).
›Emirates is by far the largest operator, having ordered over 100 A380s.