First 'Superjumbo' handed over to airline

A dramatic light and sound show heralded the long-awaited handover of the first Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, to an airline today.

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the giant “superjumbo” at a ceremony in Toulouse, southern France, attended by journalists from around the world.

The A380 has been beset by a series of costly production delays and dogged by alleged management scandals.

Airbus claims the aircraft will transform travellers’ experience of flying by offering a much quieter and more spacious cabin than its rivals.

It can carry up to 853 passengers in an economy class-only configuration, but most airlines are expected to take advantage of the extra space and carry fewer people in more luxury.

Toulouse-based Airbus boasts that the new aircraft will have a greatly reduced environment impact, describing it as “greener, cleaner, quieter and smarter”.

Compared with the Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets, the A380 makes a quarter of the noise coming into land, uses 12% less fuel and produces 17% less carbon dioxide.

Airbus chief executive Thomas Enders acknowledged the company’s recent troubles at today’s handover ceremony.

Addressing Airbus employees, he said: “I realise how unsettling recent times, particularly the last 18 months, have been, but that only serves to make this achievement all the more impressive.”