A380: last of the superjumbos handed to new owner

The final Airbus A380 ever to be built is being handed over to its new owners on Thursday, the Dubai-based carrier Emirates. It is a landmark moment. The giant of the skies will continue to fly, but its long-term future remains uncertain. Emirates, which owns roughly half of the A380 fleet, looks set to continue using it for many years to come. But several other airlines stopped using their plane during the pandemic, and some have already been scrapped. The A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. In standard configuration, it carries 545 passengers - although in theory it can carry a maximum of 853. The double-decker colossus has four engines, an 80-metre wingspan and a maximum take-off weight of 560 tonnes. It is also very complex - containing around 530km of wiring.<br/>