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On April 27, 2005, the Airbus A380 prototype with registration F-WWOW embarked on its inaugural flight. Two decades later, it stands as the largest passenger aircraft, capable of carrying over 850 passengers in an all-economy configuration and reaching a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 kilometers).
The Airbus A380 was introduced to challenge the Boeing 747 and was first delivered in October 2007. It targets airlines looking to optimize passenger loads on long-haul flights, particularly advantageous for congested airports where each flight can carry more passengers, thus offering increased revenue possibilities.
The A380 project, initially referred to as the A3XX, began in 2000 as a response to changing airline industry demands. Recognizing the limitations of the Boeing 747 due to rising passenger numbers and airport congestion, Airbus assembled a unique engineering coalition across Europe. Wings were made in the UK, fuselage sections in Germany, the cockpit and avionics were assembled in France, and tail components originated from Spain, eventually uniting in Toulouse, France.
