20 astonishing facts about the A380 superjumbo
CNN
The biggest airliner ever built is entering its sunset years, but it still holds a special place in the heart of aviation fans and pilots. Here are some interesting things you may not know about this giant of the sky.
(CNN) — Beloved by passengers for its spaciousness and comfort, but disliked by airlines because of its running costs, the Airbus A380 has already entered its sunset years, even though it debuted commercially just 14 years ago.
Its final chapter was brought into sharper focus this week, when Airbus delivered the last ever A380 ever made to its new owners, Emirates, ending 18 years of the aircraft's production.
The superjumbo was conceived at a time when larger planes carrying hundreds of passengers between hubs were an attractive proposition, but by the time it started flying, a different business model -- smaller planes connecting smaller airports -- had taken over in the aviation industry.