The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger plane that has ever been built. It can carry more passengers and cargo than any other airplane and its designers say that it uses less fuel and make less noise.

The A 380 is a giant in the skies. Its wings span about 80 metres and it has a length of 73 metres. When filled with passengers the A 380 weighs over 500 000 kg. It has three decks - two passenger decks and one for cargo. Up to 840 passengers can fly on the plane if all the seats are built in it.

Up to now, the biggest plane was the Boeing 747 which could carry 416 passengers. Designers have used special materials to keep the plane light. Plane makers say that the engines are very low in noise - they produce about half the sound of other engines.

The A 380 can fly about 13,000 km non-stop. The plane can reach destinations on other continents without refuelling.