Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Aviation

Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, four-engine wide-body passenger airliner developed by Airbus.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft ever built, a double-deck four-engine airliner that entered service in 2007. Production ended in 2021, but it remains in limited service on high-demand long-haul routes.

What it is

The A380 is a wide-body, double-deck passenger jet developed by Airbus. It first flew in 2005 and entered commercial service in 2007. With a length of 73 metres and a wingspan of 79.8 metres, it can carry up to 853 passengers in an all-economy layout, though typical airline configurations seat around 500 to 550.

Why it matters

As the only full-length double-deck airliner, the A380 offered unprecedented passenger space and comfort. However, its large size and high operating costs limited airline demand, and production ended after only 251 deliveries. While Air Canada never operated the A380, Canadian travellers have encountered it through partner airlines on international routes.

Key details

Airbus listed the A380 at about US$445 million to US$450 million. Emirates is the largest operator; other airlines include Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and ANA. Airbus continues to support in-service aircraft despite ending production in 2021.

In short

  • Largest passenger aircraft ever built and only full-length double-deck airliner.
  • Production ended in 2021 after 251 deliveries; support continues.
  • Maximum certified capacity of 853 passengers; typical layouts around 500–550.
  • Emirates is the largest operator; Air Canada did not fly the type.
Canadian angle

Air Canada did not operate the Airbus A380, but the aircraft has served on international routes relevant to Canadian travellers through global hubs and partner airlines.

Quick questions

What is the Airbus A380?
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, four-engine wide-body passenger airliner made by Airbus and is the largest passenger aircraft ever built.
How many passengers can the A380 carry?
It can carry up to 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration, though typical airline layouts are usually around 500 to 550 seats.
Is the A380 still in production?
No. Airbus ended A380 production in 2021, though it continues to support aircraft already in service.

Sources

  1. Airbus — https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/passenger-aircraft/a380
    Supports: Official description, dimensions, capacity, and note that production has ceased while support continues.
  2. Airbus — https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2021-12/EN-Airbus-A380-Facts-and-Figures-December-2021_0.pdf
    Supports: End of production information and official aircraft facts.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380
    Supports: Typical and maximum passenger capacities and basic aircraft overview.
  4. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airbus-a380-superjumbo-astonishing-facts
    Supports: Production ending, list price, and operator examples.
  5. Airbus Aeroreport — https://aeroreport.de/en/good-to-know/the-airbus-a380-the-world-s-largest-passenger-aircraft
    Supports: Production dates, delivered numbers, entry into service, and customer/operator data.
  6. Simple Flying — https://simpleflying.com/airbus-a380-facts-figures-list/
    Supports: Current operator examples and retirement trends.
  7. Flightradar24 — https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/aircraft-types/airbus-a380/
    Supports: Aircraft overview, capacity, operators, and end of production.
  8. Easy Airport Parking — https://www.easyairportparking.uk/magazine/the-airbus-a380-facts-and-figures
    Supports: Delivered numbers, operators, and service status context.