The Airbus A380 is a wide-body, double-deck airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner, designed to carry between 525 and 853 passengers across two full-length decks, with a maximum certified capacity of 868 passengers in a one-class configuration.
The development of the A380 was initiated in response to the growing demand for very large aircraft, particularly for long-haul routes where airlines could benefit from economies of scale. The project was officially launched in 2000, with the first flight occurring on 27 April 2005. The A380 was introduced into commercial service on 25 October 2007 by Singapore Airlines.
The A380 has several unique design features:
The A380 has impressive performance metrics:
The A380's production faced numerous challenges, including delays and cost overruns. Airbus announced in February 2019 that production of the A380 would cease by 2021 due to lack of orders, with the last delivery scheduled for Emirates in 2021. As of 2023, the A380 fleet continues to operate with airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa, though many have been temporarily retired or repurposed due to changes in travel patterns and economic considerations.