The biggest passenger airplanes in the world - Aerospace Technology The A340-500 aircraft obtained EASA certification in 2002. The biggest passenger airplanes in the world Airbus and Boeing currently build the biggest passenger airplanes in the world, with the mighty Airbus A380-800 and its rival the Boeing 777-300, while Russia's Ilyushin also stands out as the only other company to make the list. Aerospace-technology.com lists the top ten biggest passenger airplanes in the world, ranked by seating capacity. Airbus A380-800 - the biggest passenger airplane in the world The A380-800 from Airbus tops the list, with a massive seating capacity of 853 passengers. Rightly dubbed as the Superjumbo, it accommodates 525 passengers in a three-class configuration. The cabin consists of main and upper decks. The main cabin deck is 49.90m long and 6.54m wide, while the upper deck is slightly narrower with a length of 44.93m and width of 5.80m.

The A380-800 was launched in December 2000 and made its first flight at Blagnac Airport, Toulouse, in April 2005. The first A380-800 was delivered to launch customer Singapore Airlines in October 2007. The power plant of the world's biggest passenger aircraft includes either four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines or four Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. Cruising at a speed of 587mph (945km/h) or Mach 0.89, it can reach a range of up to 8,477nm (15,700km). Boeing 777-300 - the second biggest passenger aircraft Boeing 777-300 offers a maximum seating capacity for 550 passengers, ranking as the world's second biggest airplane in the passenger aircraft category. It offers 368 seats in a three-class configuration. The production of Boeing 777-300 aircraft was approved in June 1995, and the first aircraft was delivered in June 1998 to Cathay Pacific.

The aircraft is the latest derivative of the Boeing 777 programme, which was initiated in October 1990. The 777-300 can cruise at a speed of Mach 0.84 (892km/h) at 35,000ft altitude. The twin-engine aircraft is available with three engine options, including Pratt & Whitney 4098 with a thrust of 98,000lb, Rolls-Royce Trent 892 with a thrust of 90,000lb and General Electric 90-94B, with a thrust of 93,700lb. Boeing 747-400 Boeing 747-400 is the most favourite aircraft in the Boeing 747 family worldwide. It features a seating capacity of 524 in typical two-class configuration and 416 in a three-class configuration. The cabin is spacious with an interior width of 6.1m. Boeing 747-400 was incorporated with major aerodynamic improvements over its previous 747 models.

The aircraft completed maiden flight in April 1988 and first entered into service with Northwest Airlines in 1989. The aircraft is powered by four General Electric GE CF6-80C2B5F engines rated at 62,100lb each. The maximum cruising speed of the aircraft is 567mph (913km/h) and the service ceiling is 35,000ft. Airbus A340-600 The A340-600 developed by Airbus has a seating capacity of 475 passengers. It can accommodate 380 passengers in typical a three-class configuration. The maximum length and width of the cabin are 60.98m and 5.28m respectively. The A340-600 has the longest-fuselage among the A340 Family aircraft. The first flight of the aircraft was completed in April 2001. Virgin Atlantic Airways was the launch customer, which received the first A34-600 aircraft from Airbus in August 2002.

The aircraft is powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 556 engines, which can develop a thrust of 53,000lb to 56,000lb. The maximum cruising speed of the aircraft is 543mph (881km/h) at Mach 0.83. The range is 7,900nm (14,600km) and the service ceiling is 41,000ft. Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental (747-8I) accommodates a maximum of 467 passengers in three-class configuration. It has a maximum cabin width of 6.1m. It is the largest passenger aircraft version in the 747 series. The maiden flight of the aircraft took place in March 2011. The aircraft entered into service with the launch customer Lufthansa in June 2012. The passenger airplane has a maximum range of 8,000nm (14,815km).

It is fitted with four General Electric GEnx 2B67 engines, which are rated at 66,500lb each. The maximum cruising speed is 570mph (917km/h) and the service ceiling is 49,000ft. Boeing 777-200 The Boeing 777-200 with a maximum seating capacity of 440 is currently the sixth biggest passenger aircraft in the world. It offers 305 and 400 seats respectively in the three-class and two-class configurations. The aircraft has an interior cabin width of 5.86m. Boeing 777-200 was the first variant in the Boeing 777 aircraft series. The aircraft flew for the first time in December 1994 and entered into service in May 1995. The twin-engine jet is available with three engine options, which include Pratt & Whitney 4077, Rolls-Royce Trent 877 and General Electric GE90-77B.

The aircraft can cruise at a maximum speed of 560mph (905km/h) at Mach 0.84. The maximum range and service ceiling are 5,240nm (9,700km) and 43,000ft respectively. Airbus A330-300 Airbus A330-300 is the most economical mid-size aircraft with a fair balance between range and cost. It entered into service in 1994. The A330-300 provides seating for up to 440 passengers with 300 seats available in a two-class configuration. It has a maximum cabin length of 50.35m and cabin width of 5.28m. The aircraft has a range of 6,400nm (11,300km) and maximum cruise speed of 541mph (871km/h) at Mach 0.82. It is powered by two engines of General Electric CF6-80E1 or Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 700 make.

The aircraft has a service ceiling of 41,100ft. Airbus A340-300 The A340-300 is a variant of the A340 family developed by Airbus. The passenger jet has a maximum passenger seating capacity of 440. It offers 295 seats in a three-class configuration. It has a maximum cabin length of 50.35m and width of 5.28m. The first flight of the A340-300 was completed in October 1991, and the aircraft entered into service in March 1993. The jet cruises at a speed of Mach 0.86 powered by four CFM56-5C4 engines which generate a thrust of 151kN each. The aircraft has maximum range of 7,400nm (13,700km) and service ceiling of 41,100ft. Ilyushin 96-400 The Il-96-400 is a Russian long-haul wide-body aircraft manufactured by Voronezh Aircraft Production Association.

It is the latest version of the Il-96 family, which was designed by Ilyushin. The aircraft is based on the Il-96M/T fuselage. The aircraft offers seating for 436 passengers in the single class configuration. It accommodates 386 passengers in the two-class configuration and 315 in the three-class configuration. The maximum range of the Il-96-400 is 5,400nm (10,000km). The aircraft is powered by four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 engines which generate a maximum take-off thrust of 35,274lb each. The Il-96-400 has a cruise speed of 870km/h and service ceiling of 39,370ft. Airbus A340-500 The A340-500 combines performance, comfort and capacity for highly efficient ultra long-haul operations. The aircraft can accommodate a maximum of 375 passengers. It has a typical three-class configuration with 313 seats.

The cabin has a maximum length of 53.56m and width of 5.28m. The A340-500 completed its maiden flight in February 2002 and entered into service with launch customer Emirates in December 2003. The aircraft is powered by four RR Trent 500 engines, which generate a thrust of up to 249kN each. The maximum operating speed of the aircraft is Mach 0.86 and the range is 9,000nm (16,670km).

Related content Airbus A380 - Wide-Body, Long-Range Commercial Passenger Airliner - Specifications, History and Images Length: 239.50 feet (73 meters) Width: 261.81 feet (79.80 meters) Height: 79.07 feet (24.10 meters) Weight (Empty): 610,240 lb (276,800 kg) Weight (MTOW): 1,234,589 lb (560,000 kg) Powerplant: 4 x Engine Alliance GP7270 OR Rolls-Royce Trent 970/B turbofan engines developing between 72,000lbf to 84,000lbf of thrust each.

Maximum Speed: 634 mph (1,020 kmh; 551 knots) Maximum Range: 9,445 miles (15,200 km) Service Ceiling: 43,028 feet (13,115 meters; 8.1 miles) Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet-per-minute (0 m/min) Armament / Mission Payload: None. Staff Writer (Updated: 6/7/2016): Developed as a direct competitor to the hugely successful Boeing 747 line, Airbus introduced their wide-body, long-range jet airline A380 series on October 25th, 2007. Origins of the aircraft lay in the early 1990s and came to fruition in June of 1994 under the project "A3XX" designation. The program then underwent various design studies before receiving the official company go-ahead in December of 2000 with the aircraft now carrying the official "A380" designation. The design was refined by 2001 with components already being worked on in early 2002.

At its core, the aircraft is an international passenger/freight hauler marketed for long distance routes and under a technology-laden, fuel efficient approach when compared to the massive, 1960s-era Boeing 747 series. The A380 netted several launch customers before the first aircraft had even flown. Production began in 2004 to which a prototype was first unveiled at Toulouse, France on January 18th, 2005. It received its first flight some months later on April 27th, 2005. The manufacturing of the aircraft consisted of a multinational logistics path that included the nations of Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and, of course, the home country of France. A total of five airframes were reserved for evaluation service and certification for the product was then achieved in December of 2006. By this point, development costs had appropriately ballooned and production faced delays of several months which then evolved into years. The line was formally introduced with launch customer Singapore Airlines on October 25th, 2007 (as "AQ380") though delays continued into 2008.

Emirates then followed as a customer in August of 2008. The 100th aircraft of the family was delivered to Malaysia Airlines on March 14th, 2013 and, to date (January 2014), some 119 A380s have been completed with production ongoing as of this writing. The complete list of operators to date includes Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air, China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International and British Airways. The cockpit of the A380 utilizes dual controls for both pilots and an all-glass approach with five large, full-color multi-function displays (MFDs). Throttle controls are managed at the center console and each pilot is given side-stick controller input mimicking the configuration of a modern military fighter aircraft. The passenger section includes a two-story approach (with belly cargo level) which promotes a very deep fuselage for the aircraft when viewed externally in profile. In a three-class configuration, the A380 can haul some 555 passengers and as many as 850 in a single-class configuration.

Overall length of the airframe is equal to 239 feet with a wingspan reaching out to 262 feet and height of 80 feet. The A380 weighs in at 610,000lbs and features a maximum take-off weight of 1.3 million pounds fully loaded (freighter model). Power is served through an Engine Alliance GP7270 (70,000lbs thrust), Rolls-Royce Trent 970-972/B (70,000-72,000lbs thrust) or Engine Alliance GP7277 (76,000lbs thrust) and Rolls-Royce Trent 977/B (76,000lbs thrust) turbofan engines (passenger and freighter models respectively). Maximum speed is 630 miles per hour with a cruise speed of 590 miles per hour being reported and service range is out to 9,750 miles (6,400 for freighter model). The aircraft can reach a service ceiling of 43,100 feet.

To date (January 2014), the A380 series has not been involved in any fatal crashes. A November 2010 flight from Singapore to Sidney was forced to return following an engine failure though no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. The Rolls-Royce engines in play were then reviewed and an oil leak was found which forced other Trent engines to be reviewed and repaired. Further review unveiled cracks in the wing which forced further assessment of all active A380s. The A380-800 is expected to be revised through an improvement initiative announced in 2010. This will result in an increased maximum take-off weight and operational range. This should become the next standardized passenger model available. The A380-900 is an enlarged variant (though since officially delayed) with more passenger seating (up to 650 in a standard configuration). The A380F represents the freighter model variant though early orders were retracted by customers due to delays and Airbus has currently shelved the model for the near future.

© Global Operators Your Take: Photos of the world's largest passenger plane FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Your Take: Photos of the world's largest passenger plane We asked readers to share their shots of this groundbreaking plane, and here are some of our favorites. Post to Facebook Your Take: Photos of the world's largest passenger plane We asked readers to share their shots of this groundbreaking plane, and here are some of our favorites. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 3 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Your Take: Photos of the world's largest passenger plane USA TODAY 8:02 a.m. ET March 18, 2014 Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. The double-decker Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger aircraft. We asked readers to send us photos of the massive plane for this slideshow, submit your own at usatoday.com/yourtake. Pictured: Korean Air A380 banking after taking off from JFK Airport in New York.

Joe Osciak, Your Take A380 at Farnborough Air Show, 2012. Jack Nolan, Your Take Air France A380 at LAX. Scott Mainwaring, Your Take B747-800 and A380-800, two mighty planes at FRA :) Rob Erto, Your Take A test run A380 parked at Terminal 1 of SFO International Airport in October of 2007. Chong Qing wu, Your Take This photo of the Air France A380 was taken at Washington Dulles Airport by me. I love the A380; its size and overall structural design makes it almost impossible to overlook. Ryan Ewing, Your Take View of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, after disembarking a flight from Frankfurt Airport to New York, JFK. Markus Fuchs, Your Take Multiple boarding jetways! Other planes are tiny! Whoa, we barely fit on the runway! What a smooth flight it was! Glen Wurden, Your Take Took Emirates A380 from JFK to DXB in March 2012.

Ketul Shah, Your Take After a cancellation from Christchurch to Sydney due to the 2009 dust storm, I was rerouted on this A380 from Auckland. The service was impeccable--meals, hot towels, pre-meal beverages. All on a 2.5-hour flight. Timothy Meeks, Your Take These huge planes spend each day parked side-by-side at (South Africa's) OR Tambo awaiting evening return flights to CDG & FRA. Kristofer Peterson, Your Take Emirates A380 parked at the gate at Paris-Charles de Gaulle getting ready to fly back to DXB (June 2011). Blake Welch, Your Take Fullscreen After takeoff on a recent A380 Lufthansa flight from Beijing to Frankfurt, I walked the entire aircraft. It was packed, like two 747s, one on top of the other. I settled back into my seat in an empty First Class cabin and was simply awe-struck. George Zaharoff, Your Take Singapore Airlines Inaugural A380 Flight. John Moey, Your Take On Singapore A380-800 FRA-JFK Buisness Class.

Bill Crews, Your Take Was surprised when I saw that the flight from CAN to PEK was going to be on one of these huge birds! Daniel Carcopo, Your Take A380 landing at Frankfurt, and at the gate. Greg Gentleman, Your Take Qantas A380 Nancy Bird Walton. Daniel Friedman, Your Take Beautiful sunrise over Australia on its way from Lax-Mel. Alex Zois, Your Take Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay 240 CONNECT TWEET 3 LINKEDIN 3 COMMENTEMAILMORE The double-decker Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger aircraft. We asked readers to send us photos of this massive plane, and here are some of our favorites. Submit your own at usatoday.com/yourtake . See more reader photos in these previous Your Take galleries: BOEING 747 Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. We asked readers to share their photos of the legendary Boeing 747. Here are some of our favorites. Pictured: United Airlines 747-400 over San Francisco Bay during Fleet Week Air Show 2012.

Cory Christian, Your Take A 747 flying from the United States to Japan. Scotty A, Your Take Early morning arrival from IAD to FRA on 01DEC2013 on the LH 747-8i. Bryan Paulsen, Your Take A KLM 747 on final approach to Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten. Scott Sherrin, Your Take Flying over Greenland on Lufthansa's 747. Bernardo Huerta, Your Take Still the Queen of the Skies. Darren Anderson, Your Take E-4B Nightwatch - a specially modified Boeing 747-200B built to serve as a survivable airborne mobile command post. Caught this doing pattern work at Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo, Texas, on March 12, 2013. Anthony Boyer, Your Take This was the first day Continental Airlines flew the 747 from Houston to HNL in 1990.

Wayne Young, Your Take Retired Qantas 747 in Longreach Australia - taken by @rcorrao with a Nikon D70 May 9, 2005. Robert Corrao, Your Take A British Airways 747-400 on short final to Runway 26R at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Howard Slutsken, Your Take UPS 747 arriving from Louisville, Ky. Tim Perkins, Your Take The Pride of the UPS Freighter Fleet, this UPS 747-400 opens it's nose door to accept oversize cargo at Bangkok International Airport. Corey West, Your Take Fullscreen The B-747 carried more than just people. The general rule was if it fit through the huge cargo door, it would be flown to anywhere in the world. I flew for Tigers for 12 years, and the 747 was and still is a great aircraft. Larry Bollrud, Your Take We are currently on a short holiday in Germany and wanted to share these photos of the 747 we saw at the museum in Speyer, Germany.

David Forbes, Your Take This is Endeavour's last flight out of Kennedy Space Center. It was mated to the 747 SCA to be carried to Los Angeles, its final destination at the museum. Miguel Bennasar, Your Take This NASA 747, registered N911NA, first used in 1991 to ferry the Endeavor from California to Florida. Seen here carrying the Discovery during a stopover in Amarillo, Texas, on 20 Sep 2009, following mission STS-128. Anthony Boyer, Your Take En route to Amsterdam-Schiphol from Johannesburg, South Africa, we had a beautiful view of the Italian Alps aboard a KLM 747, June 2008. Blake Welch, Your Take iPhone shot taken in HKG of Cathay Pacific 747 bound for Bali. Bradley Bunn, Your Take BA 747: I'm always amazed at how big they really are. Jim Jones, Your Take Lufthansa 747-400 parked at Frankfurt (FRA) Terminal Z.

Adil Shariff, Your Take Boeing 747 Photo by Paul Thompson (@FlyingPhotog) Paul Thompson, Your Take Lufthansa Airlines Flight 419 in a 747-8 departs from IAD to FRA. David Johnson, Your Take Taxiing in a Virgin Atlantic 747 on April 5, 2013. Joe Taylor, Your Take For several years, I have wanted to travel to photograph a 747 parked in front of the fountains at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. To me, it seemed like this spot captured the joy of air travel. Jack Harty, Your Take British airways 747's wing splitting the sun into two colors. matt mme, Your Take Shot while taxing on a Braniff Airlines DC-8 62 from LAX to Columbus after the Rose Bowl in 1980. Mark Cameron, Your Take The 747-400 is the original jumbo jet. It has always had a place in my heart and it has place in the hearts of many of my fellow #AvGeeks.

Ryan Ewing, Your Take The 747 is the only plane with a head as big as mine! This was taken at the Lufthansa Technik Maintenance Facility at FRA. Ricky Laverde, Your Take 747-400 Freighter At Los Angeles - August 2013. T Shepherd, Your Take British Airways sunset landing at Houston IAH. Add your 747 photo to our collection at usatoday.com/yourtake/topics/419343/ Dale Marek, Your Take Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. "I spend most each flight just staring out the window at the wonders every flight has to offer." John Boyd, Your Take USA TODAY asked readers to share their best planespotting photos. Here are some of our editors' favorites; to share more photos, visit usatoday.com/yourtake. A stylized photograph depicts the Continental Merger/ United Airlines merger. Jon Hollon, Your Take Southwest Airlines flight from PHX to SLC. Craig Benefield, Your Take A jet refuels in Dakar, Senegal.

Jon Hollon, Your Take The tail of a Dash 8 Q100 at KMDT Harrisburg, Pa. Robert Touchstone, Your Take An in-flight view of Washington state's Mount Rainer. Jennifer Colombo, Your Take A filtered photo of a “Shamu” Southwest jet at the gate in July 2011. Art Meripol, Your Take A B777-200 N204UA is pictured on a rainy morning on descent into LHR on UA918. Sam Wozniak, Your Take A Paris-to-New York flight flies over Manhattan in June 2013. Franck Montgon, Your Take High above the Windy City. Gary Sherman, Your Take "Cruising over the pacific en route to Maui." Jeff Flores, Your Take A filtered photo depicts a Southwest jet at Dallas Love in December 2012. Art Meripol, Your Take American Airlines Flight 2057 from Los Angeles International Airport to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Joe Solorzano, Your Take Southwest Airlines flight en route to Tampa International Airport. Dan Jackman, Your Take Not flying off into the sunset.

"I was actually going East that time." Agastya Parikh, Your Take A Delta 757 on approach into Southwest Florida International Airport flies over Fort Myers Beach. Brian Solis, Your Take Pilot Colm McIvor captured this scene on a Piedmont Airlines/US Airways Express Dash 8 evening flight, from LaGuardia Airport to Burlington International Airport in Vermont. McIvor now works for JetBlue. Colm McIvor, Your Take Jeremy Christopher says the symbolism in this photo depicts US Airways' end of an era. He captured the scene at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, US Airways' former headquarters, while en route to Costa Rica. Jeremy Christopher, Your Take Aloha! At Honolulu Airport preparing to fly back to Seattle. George Steele, Your Take A July flight en route from Miami to Atlanta passes through thunderstorms in North Florida. Dane Evans, a corporate pilot flying the Hawker 800XP at the time, captured the weather just north of Tallahassee. Dane Evans, Your Take A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus, traveling from Las Vegas to Honolulu, passes by another Hawaiian Airlines Airbus.

Michael Gleason, Your Take Rich Davidson describes the Boeing Dreamlifter as "different, yet beautiful." Rich Davidson, Your Take A&P mechanic Tim Pappert took this photo after finishing a departure check after a scheduled inspection.Next stop for this Falcon 7x: Brazil. Tim Pappert, Your Take Somewhere on an eastbound flight over the Pacific at dawn. The morning sun rising over the horizon catches the higher altitude clouds. Derek Fuell, Your Take A flight from Miami to Aruba stretches over "heaven," somewhere in the Bahamas. Danielle Gebhardt Schubargo, Your Take A Frontier aircraft gets ready to take off at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in the evening. Felix Reyes works for the swissport ramp there. Felix Reyes, Your Take Walking around a grounded JetBlue A320 Sharklet at FLL.Check travel.usatoday.com later for more aviation slideshows. Colm McIvor, Your Take Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Passenger aircraft | Airbus, Commercial Aircraft … / Passenger aircraft Passenger aircraft Airbus jetliners have become the aircraft of choice for operators worldwide – from low-cost carriers to full-service airlines flying many of the longest routes around the globe.

The company’s product line of passenger aircraft is characterised by the highest comfort, unmatched economics and versatility. Airbus’ A320 Family is the undisputed leader in the single-aisle category; while its A330/A340 families of twin-engine and four-engine aircraft cover all long-range requirements. As the largest aircraft in Airbus’ product range, the double-deck A380 has introduced an entirely new way of travelling, leveraging a variety of key innovations. Airbus leveraged decades of experience and expertise for the new-generation A350 XWB, which is shaping the future of air travel by offering an aircraft family that meets market requirements for size, range, revenue generation, passenger comfort and the environment. Airliners.net Europe (France, Germany, Spain, UK) Type High capacity, long range, twindeck, widebody airliner History The 555 seat, double deck Airbus A380 is the world's largest airliner, easily eclipsing Boeing's 747. The A380 base model is the 555 seat A380-800 (launch customer Emirates).

Potential future models include the 590 ton MTOW 10,410km (5620nm) A380-800F freighter, able to carry a 150 tonne payload, and the stretched, 656 seat, A380-900. Airbus first began studies on a very large 500 seat airliner in the early 1990s. The European manufacturer saw developing a competitor and successor to the Boeing 747 as a strategic play to end Boeing's dominance of the very large airliner market and round out Airbus' product line-up. Airbus began engineering development work on such an aircraft, then designated the A3XX, in June 1994. Airbus studied numerous design configurations for the A3XX and gave serious consideration to a single deck aircraft which would have seated 12 abreast and twin vertical tails. However Airbus settled upon a twin deck configuration, largely because of the significantly lighter structure required.

Key design aims include the ability to use existing airport infrastructure with little modifications to the airports, and direct operating costs per seat 15-20% less than those for the 747-400. With 49% more floor space and only 35% more seating than the previous largest aircraft, Airbus is ensuring wider seats and aisles for more passenger comfort. Using the most advanced technologies, the A380 is also designed to have 10-15% more range, lower fuel burn and emissions, and produce less noise. The A380 features an advanced version of the Airbus common two crew cockpit, with pull-out keyboards for the pilots, extensive use of composite materials such as GLARE (an aluminium/glass fibre composite), and four 302 to 374kN (68,000 to 84,000lb) class Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General Electric/Pratt & Whitney) GP7200 turbofans now under development.

On July 24, 2000, Emirates became the first customer making a firm order commitment, followed by Air France, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. Together these companies completed the 50 orders needed to launch the programme. On receipt of the required 50th launch order commitment, the Airbus A3XX was renamed A380 and officially launched on December 19, 2000. The out of sequence A380 designation was chosen as the "8" represents the cross-section of the twin decks. In early 2001 the general configuration design was frozen, and metal cutting for the first A380 component occurred on January 23, 2002, at Nantes in France. In 2002 more than 6000 people were working on A380 development. Apart from the prime contractors in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, components for the A380 airframe are also manufactured by industrial partners in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

A380 final assembly is taking place in Toulouse, France, with interior fitment in Hamburg, Germany. Major A380 assemblies are transported to Toulouse by ship, barge and road. On January 18, 2005, the first Airbus A380 was officially revealed in a lavish ceremony, attended by 5000 invited guests including the French, German, British and Spanish president and prime ministers, representing the countries that invested heavily in the 10-year, â�¬10 billion+ ($13 billion+) aircraft program, and the CEOs of the 14 A380 customers, who had placed firm orders for 149 aircraft by then. Later, the following companies also ordered the A380: FedEx (the launch customer for the A380-800F freighter), Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, Thai Airways and UPS. However, in 2007, amid production delays, Airbus announced that it was halting design work on the A380 freighter to concentrate on the passenger version of the aircraft. FedEx and UPS canceled their orders for the aircraft.

Five prototypes were used in the flight test programme, which was heavily delayed due to problems with configuration management and wiring issues. The first flight occurred in August 2006, and entry into commercial service, with Singapore Airlines, took place in October 2007. Powerplants A380-800 - Four 311kN (70,000lb), initially derated to 302kN (68,000lb), later growing to 374kN (84,000lb) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or 363kN (81,500lb) thrust Engine Alliance (General Electric-Pratt & Whitney) GP-7200 turbofans. Performance A380-800 - Max cruising speed M 0.88. Long range cruising speed M 0.85. Range 14,800km (8,000nm). Service ceiling 43.000ft (13,100m).

A380-800F - Range 10,370km (5,600nm). Weights A380-800 - Operating empty 277,000kg (610,700lb), max takeoff 560,000kg (1,234,600lb). A380-800F - Operating empty 252,000kg (555,600lb), max takeoff 590,000kg (1,300,700lb). Dimensions stumbleupon Email Comment What are the swiftest passenger planes ever made? Excluding military aircrafts here are the 10 fastest passenger planes in history. 10. Cessna Citation CJ3 – 478 mph The Cessna Citation CJ3 is a light business jet from Cessna. The plane is manufactured in the United States and costs $7.49 million. It has a travel range of 1,875 nautical miles or 3,473 kilometers and can accommodate six passengers.

The plane is powered by a couple of Williams FJ 44-3A engines with 2,820 lbf and Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. Maximum cruising speed is 478 miles per hour. The plane can climb at a rate of 3,576.07 fpm and can reach a maximum of 45,000 feet. 9. Bombardier CRJ 1000 – 541 mph The Bombardier CRJ 1000 is a light passenger jet from Bombardier Aerospace. The plane is manufactured in Canada and has a price of $46.37 million. It has a travel range of 1,691 nautical miles or 3,132 kilometers and can accommodate 104 passengers. The plane is powered by a couple of General Electric GE CF34-8C5A1 engines with 13,630 horsepower and Rockwell Collins ProLine 4 avionics. It has a maximum cruising speed of 541 miles per hour.

The plane has a service ceiling of 41,000 feet and climb at a rate of 2,000 fpm. 8. Gulfstream G550 – 585 mph The Gulfstream G550 is a heavy business jet manufactured in the United States. It costs $55 million to $57 million. It has a travel range of 6,750 nautical miles or 12,501 kilometers and can accommodate up to 18 passengers. The plane is boosted by a couple of Rolls Royce BR 710 engines with 15,58 lbf and Honeywell Primus Epic PlaneView avionics. Its maximum cruising speed is 660 miles per hour. Its service ceiling is 51,000 feet and it can climb at a rate of 4,000 fpm. 7. Gulfstream G650 – 610 mph The Gulfstream G650 is the fastest long-range private charter jet. This heavy business jet is from Gulfstream Aerospace and is made in the United States.

It has a travel range of 7,000 nautical miles or 12,964 kilometers and can accommodate up to 18 passengers. It is powered by a couple of Rolls Royce BR 725 A1 12 engines at 16,100 lbf and Honeywell PlaneView 2 Cockpit avionics. The maximum cruising speed is 610 miles per hour and service ceiling is at 51,000 feet. It costs $62 million. 6. Boeing 747 8 – 614 mph The Boeing 747 8 is a jumbo passenger jet from The Boeing Company. It is manufactured in the United States and costs $351.4 million. It has a travel range of 8,000 nautical miles or 14,816 kilometers and can accommodate 700 passengers. Four General Electric GEnx 2B67 engines with 66,500 lbf and Rockwell Collins avionics power the plane. The maximum cruising speed is 614 miles per hour.

Service ceiling of the plane is 43,000 feet. 5. Dassault Falcon 900 EX – 662 mph The Dassault Falcon 900 EX is a midsize business jet from Dassault Aviation made in France. This plane costs $36 million. It has a travel range of 3,995 nautical miles or 7,399 kilometers and has a seat capacity of 19 passengers. The plane is powered by three Honeywell TFE 731-60 engines at 5,000 lbf and Dassault 3D EASy Cockpit. Maximum cruising speed is 662 miles per hour. Service ceiling is 39,000 feet with climbing rate of 2,500 fpm. 4. Airbus A380 – 676 mph The Airbus A380 is a jumbo passenger jet from Airbus Industrie. It is made in France and costs $318 million. Some of its variants include the A380 700, A380 800 and A380 900 models.

All three have maximum cruising speed of 676 miles per hour. The costs range from $301 million to $337.5 million. The 800 and 900 models both have four Rolls Royce Trent 970B engines with 70,000 lbf and Thales Rockwell Honeywell Combo avionics. Both can climb at a rate of 4,500 fpm with service ceiling of 43,000 feet. The 700 model, on the other hand, has four Engine Alliance GP 7270 engines with 70,000 lbf and avionics system similar to its sister models. 3. Cessna Citation X – 700 mph The Cessna Citation X is a midsize business jet from Cessna in the United States. The plane costs between $20.6 million to 21.5 million. It has a travel range of 3,070 nautical miles or 5,686 kilometers and can accommodate 12 passengers.

The plane is powered by a couple of Rolls Royce AE 3007C1 at 6,764 lbf and Honeywell Primus 2000 autopilot avionics. Maximum cruising speed is 700 miles per hour and service ceiling is 51,000 feet. The plane can climb at a rate of 3,650 fpm. 2. Concorde – 1,354 mph The Concorde was a turbojet powered supersonic passenger airliner, or what is called as the supersonic transport, or SST. The plane was developed through the collaboration of the British Aircraft Corporation, or BAC, and Aerospatiale. It first came out in 1969 but it officially entered service only in 1976. It flew commercial flights for 27 years before it was retired from service in 2003. Only 20 units were ever built, with 14 being used in the airline industry. The plane costs £23 million in 1977, which is equivalent to around £107 million in today’s economy.

British Airways and Air France primarily used the plane, although Braniff International Airways also used it through a short-term lease and Singapore Airlines via a short-term wet lease. It had a maximum cruising speed of 1,354 miles per hour with flight range of 7,250 kilometers. It could accommodate 128 passengers and its service ceiling was 60,000 feet at climb rate speed of 5,000 fpm. Four Rolls Royce/Olympus 593 turbojet engines powered the plane. 1. Tupolev TU 144 – 1,510 mph The Tupolev TU 144 was a supersonic transport plane from Tupolev OKB. It was produced between 1968 and 1984, though only 55 flights were completed because of its poor safety record. It was also used for cargo until 1983. The plane could accommodate 140 passengers and was utilized primarily by Aeroflot. Service ceiling was at 65,600 feet at a climb rate of 9,840 fpm.

The plane had four Kolesov RD-3651 turbojet engines. 542 Shares A380 - A380 photos, pictures, A380 videos, A380 3D view | Airbus | Airbus, Commercial Aircraft A380 A380 Increasing profitability With the A380, the sky is yours. Designed for air transport needs in the 21st century, its unique size allows airlines to maximize their revenue potential through an optimized, segmented cabin. The A380 cabin is the quietest and most spacious in the sky for passengers – offering layouts ranging from comfortable 18-inch seats at 11-abreast in economy up to a private three-room suite. It is no wonder travellers opt for the comfort of the A380 when given the choice. This results in higher market shares, higher load factors and higher revenues – allowing airlines to increase their contribution to profit by up to 75 per cent per flight.

Revenue The A380 effect The A380 has been winning over business and leisure passengers alike since its service introduction in 2007, providing levels of comfort and reliability that have led travelers to specifically request flights on Airbus’ 21st century flagship – which is in operation with carriers around the globe. The best solution for 21st century growth The double-deck A380 is the world’s largest commercial aircraft flying today, with capacity to carry 544 passengers in a comfortable four-class configuration, and up to 853 in a single-class configuration that provides wider seats than its competitor. Overall, the A380’s two decks offer 50 per cent more floor surface than the next largest aircraft, allowing airlines to optimize their cabin offering. With superior range of 15,200 km., the A380 is the ideal solution to alleviate traffic congestion at busy airports and maximize profitability on the busiest routes in the world. It has two full-length passenger levels with true widebody dimensions: a main deck and an upper deck, which are conveniently linked by fixed stairs forward and aft.

Own the sky In a worldwide airline market that is highly focused on high yielding traffic between today’s busiest cities and doubles in size every 15 years, the A380 can win airlines greater market share with the best cabin in the sky. This flagship Airbus jetliner is proven to attract high-revenue travellers day after day, stimulating demand and offering the best capacity to match demand at peak hours, along with providing comfort aloft unrivalled by any other jetliner. It has the widest and most spacious seating in all classes of service, something that passengers opt for when they have the choice. A380s are flown by members of all three major global alliances, ensuring that both point-to-point and connecting passengers can build mileage accounts with their favourite frequent flyer programmes. By combining the opportunity to capture growth, unmatched comfort and global accessibility, the A380 enables airlines to define new opportunities – and own the sky. 4 Spaciousness for all Designed for the modern standard of comfort, the A380 meets the requirements of passengers travelling in all service classes – today and into the future.

With at least an 18-inch-wide seat in economy, as well as innovative options in business and first classes, the efficient A380 offers an unmatched widebody experience for all. Coupled with its optimal cabin height, these key advantages provide more personal storage, better head room and wider stairs. The built-in cabin arrangement flexibility allows airlines to differentiate their products and develop solutions for specific market mixes. Operators are making innovative uses of the aircraft’s decks, including the “Residence” suite on Etihad’s A380s – which has three separate rooms and 125 square feet (12 meters squared). Cockpit Most efficient and innovative cabin Airbus’ 21st century flagship A380 is setting new standards in terms of cabin layout and overall passenger comfort, fully leveraging its double-deck configuration to provide broader seats, more personal storage, better head room and wider stairs and aisles. Seating capacity ranges from 544 passengers (in a comfortable four-class configuration) up to 853 in a single-class configuration with wider seats than other aircraft in its class. The A380's cabin flexibility allows airlines to differentiate their products and develop innovative layouts tailored to market requirements.

Some operators might, for example, choose to seat their first and business class passengers on the upper deck – providing a corporate jet-like environment – while configuring the A380's main deck for an all-economy layout. Overall passenger comfort is further enhanced by a number of additional technologies equipped on Airbus’ A380, including advanced lighting systems and new standards of in-flight entertainment. Cabin air is recycled every three minutes to keep the atmosphere fresh, while natural light is provided by 220 cabin windows. Four high-level air outlets – as opposed to the industry standard of two – keep customers refreshed during all phases of flight. Related news stumbleupon Email Comment Planes have come a long way since the Wright brothers first took flight in the early 1900’s. Since then, planes have become faster and bigger and can now cover a much longer range. But which planes are the largest? Which ones are capable of carrying the most passengers? Here are the 10 biggest passenger airplanes in the world based on the number of seats in the original configuration. Note that airlines may change this based on their own requirements. 10.

Airbus A340 300 – 295 seats The Airbus A340 300 is a passenger airplane made in France. It was first manufactured in 1993 and can accommodate 295 passengers in a single-class seat arrangement and 267 in two-class system. It has a travel range of 7,400 nautical miles or 13,705 kilometers. Its current price is between $211 million to $219 million. This is the initial version of the A340 and its first users were Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C engines and makes use of the Honeywell 331-350 (A) APU. Airbus has sold 246 units of this model. 9. Airbus A340 500 – 372 seats The Airbus A340 500 is a passenger airplane manufactured in France. It came out in 2006, though there were early deliveries in 2002.

It is designed for 372 passengers in a single-class seat arrangement and 313 in a double class system. The travel range of this plane is 9,018 nautical miles or 16,700 kilometers. A single unit of the plane costs around $233 million. When it was first introduced, it was billed as the passenger airplane with the longest range. It is powered by four 53,000 lbf thrust Rolls Royce Trent 553 turbofans and uses the Honeywell 331-600 (A) APU. It is one of the airplanes of choice of Emirates, which has 10 units of this model. Airbus has sold 22 units of this model. 8. Airbus A340 600 – 420 seats The Airbus A340 600 is a passenger airplane from France that can accommodate 420 passengers in a single-class system and 380 in a double-class arrangement. It has a travel range of 7,750 nautical miles or 14,353 kilometers.

Four Rolls Royce Trent 556 engines power the plane with avionics by Thales Smiths. Its maximum cruising speed is 580 miles per hour and it can go as high as 39,000 feet in the air. Airbus has sold a total of 48 units of this model. Its price tag is $245 million. 7. Boeing 777 200 – 440 seats The Boeing 777 200 is a passenger plane made in the United States. It can accommodate 440 passengers in a single-class system and 400 in a two-class configuration. It has a travel range of 14,260 kilometers or 7,700 nautical miles. The plane is powered by a couple of Pratt and Whitney PW 4090 engines at 90,000 lbf. The maximum cruising speed is 587 miles per hour and the service ceiling is 43,100 feet. Boeing has already sold 439 units. The price tag is $258.8 million. 6.

Airbus A380 700 – 525 seats The Airbus A380 700 is a passenger plane from France with a travel range of 8,700 nautical miles or 16,112 kilometers. It can accommodate 525 passengers in a single- class configuration and 480 in a two-class set up. The plane costs $301 million. Four Engine Alliance GP 7270 engines at 70,000 lbf power it. The maximum cruising speed is 676 miles per hour while the service ceiling is 43,000 feet. It can climb up at a rate of 4,500 fpm. 5. Boeing 777 300 – 550 seats The Boeing 777 300 is a passenger plane manufactured in the United States with a seat capacity of 550 people in a single-class set up and 451 in a two-class configuration. It has a travel range of 6,013 nautical miles or 11,135 kilometers.

Two Rolls Royce RR 892 engines at 92,000 lbf power the plane. The maximum cruising speed is 587 miles per hour while the service ceiling is 43,100 feet. Boeing has sold 60 units of this model at $279 million each. 4. Boeing 747 400 – 624 seats The Boeing 747 400 is a passenger plane made in the United States that can accommodate 624 passengers in a single-class set up and 524 in a two-class system. It has a travel range of 7,260 nautical miles or 13,446 kilometers. It has four General Electric GE CF6-80C2B5F engines at 62,100 lbf to provide its power. The maximum cruising speed is 565.47 miles per hour and the service ceiling is 45,000 feet. The plane costs $228 million. Boeing has already sold 1,358 units of this model. 3.

Boeing 747 8 – 700 seats The Boeing 747 8 is a passenger airplane manufactured in the United States. It can accommodate 700 passengers if a single-class system is followed, while 600 seats are available in a double-class configuration. The plane has a travel range of 8,000 nautical miles or 14,816 kilometers. Four General Electric GEnx 2B67 with 66,500 lbf power the plane. The maximum cruising speed is 649 miles per hour. It has a service ceiling of 43,000 feet. Only five units have been sold at $351.4 million. 2. Airbus A380 800 – 853 seats The Airbus A380 800 is a passenger plane made in France with capacity for 853 passengers in a single class or 644 in a two-tiered class. It has a travel range of 8,208 nautical miles or 15,200 kilometers. The plane costs $318 million.

Four Rolls Royce Trent 970B engines at 70,000 lbf power the plane. The maximum cruising speed is 676 miles per hour with service ceiling of 43,000 feet. Airbus has sold 192 units of this model. 1. Airbus A380 900 – 900 seats The Airbus A380 900 is a passenger plane from France with a travel range of 8,100 nautical miles or 15,000 kilometers. It can accommodate 900 passengers in a single- class set up and 656 in double-class configuration. The plane costs $337.5 million. Four Rolls Royce Trent B engines are used to help the plane attain maximum cruising speed of 676 miles per hour and maximum height of 43,000 feet. 365 Shares

Question: Which aircraft is the largest passenger airliner currently in service?
Answer: Airbus 380