page_title: Airbus A380
section_title: Wings
hierarchical_section_title: Airbus A380 / Design / Wings
caption_attribution_description: Photograph taken at: Paris Air Show, 20 June 2011–26 June 2011
context_page_description: The Airbus A380 is a wide-body aircraft manufactured by Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner.
  Airbus studies started in 1988 and the project was announced in 1990 to challenge the dominance of the Boeing 747 in the long haul market.
  The then-designated A3XX project was presented in 1994; Airbus launched the €9.5 billion A380 programme on 19 December 2000.
  The first prototype was unveiled in Toulouse on 18 January 2005,
  with its first flight on 27 April 2005.
  Difficulties in electrical wiring caused a two-year delay and the development cost ballooned to €18 billion.
  It obtained its type certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration on 12 December 2006.
  It was first delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15 October 2007 and entered service on 25 October.
  Production peaked at 30 per year in 2012 and 2014. However, Airbus concedes that its $25 billion investment for the aircraft cannot be recouped.
  On 14 February 2019, after Emirates reduced its last orders in favour of the A350 and the A330neo, Airbus announced that A380 production would end by 2021.
context_section_description: The A380's wings are sized for a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) over 650 tonnes to accommodate these future versions, albeit with some internal strengthening required on the A380F freighter. The optimal wingspan for this weight is about 90 m (300 ft), but airport restrictions have limited it to less than 80 m (260 ft), thereby lowering the aspect ratio to 7.8 which reduces fuel efficiency by about 10% and increases operating costs a few percent, given that fuel costs constitute about 50% of the cost of long-haul aeroplane operation.
  The common wing design approach sacrifices fuel efficiency on the A380-800 passenger model because of its weight, but Airbus estimates that the aircraft's size and advanced technology will provide lower operating costs per passenger than the 747–400. The wings incorporate wingtip fences that extend above and below the wing surface, similar to those on the A310 and A320. These increase fuel efficiency and range by reducing induced drag. The wingtip fences also reduce wake turbulence, which endangers following aircraft.
caption: Planform view showing moderate wing aspect ratio and the undercarriage
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