Airbus A380 Finally Launches!

The long-delayed Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, took its first public flight yesterday as more than 200 journalists and company bosses took off from Toulouse on a two-hour flight over the Pyrenees piloted by British and German captains keen to show off the plane's much publicised "quiet, smooth and fuel-efficient ride".

It was the 2,000th take-off for the superjumbo, which has already flown around the world on a series of tests, passing the north and south poles and stopping off at air shows. But it was the first time the media were able to film the spacious interior of the double-decker, which some airlines are considering fitting with a gym, shops, bars and showers.

The most complex passenger plane ever built, with a production line stretching between France, Britain, Germany and Spain, the A380 project has been beset with problems since engineers struggled to install the 300 miles of wiring, setting off a spiral of delays that led to boardroom turmoil, executive resignations and the wrath of airline buyers who are currently negotiating compensation.

The A380 has a capacity of 840 people, but as airlines compete to give premium passengers more space for more money, it will likely hold an average of 525, compared with around 360 on a Boeing 747. When it launches for Singapore Airlines later this year it could have features such as a gym, cocktail bar, nursery, and private first-class cabin suites with their own sliding doors, desk and bed.

The digital entertainment systems will aim to offer up to 80 films on demand at any time, as well as live TV and potentially on-board internet. The seat-back screens, at around 18 by 10 inches, are almost twice the size of screens on today's planes.

But with the widest cabin in passenger airline history, and 50% more floor surface than the 747, the economy seats are 1-inch wider than on current jumbos and stressed travellers will benefit from seeing more space above their heads, more room to stretch and to walk up and down stairs.