Many aviation aficionados have touted the A380 airliner as the future of the long haul flight industry, with the aircraft offering a number of new features that have never been seen on an airliner before; including two lounges, a bar, first class-suites, showers and adjoining spas - the first ever installed on a commercial aircraft.



The sheer size of the aircraft is obviously the first feature that most comment upon. The ?167 million double-decker Airbus is about 73 meters long and 24 meters high, with the upper deck extending along almost the entire length of the fuselage and its width the equivalent of a wide body aircraft. In layman's terms, it would stretch almost from one end of a football pitch to the other, lengthwise, while its wing tips would hang well beyond the sidelines. This results in the aircraft boasting 50% more cabin space than the next-largest airliner, the Boeing 747. In a standard three class configuration, the plane can carry 525 people, with that increasing to 853 people in an all economy class configuration.

The A380 also features a bulb-less illumination system, with LEDs being employed in the cabin, cockpit, cargo and other fuselage areas. The cabin lighting features programmable multi spectral LEDs which are capable of creating a cabin ambience simulating daylight, night or any shade in between. This technology provides brightness and a service life far superior to traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Airbus' initial publicity stressed the comfort and space of the A380, anticipating installations such as relaxation areas, bars, duty free shops and beauty salons. Several airlines have indeed added their own touches to the A380's in their fleet of aircraft: casinos, double beds and gymnasiums are planned on some aircraft while others, such as the one offered by Emirates, provide fully enclosed first class suites which feature fully flat beds with a built-in massage system, personal mini-bar and a 23 inch LCD screen. All passengers can also enjoy over 1,100 channels of entertainment on their on-board TV, audio and movies on-demand system.

Passengers travelling on the upper deck of the A380 can enjoy one of 76 Business Class seats and 14 First Class "suites", while it was also recently revealed that the would offer showers to its 14 first class passengers - a revolutionary innovation in the world of air travel, and which will allow them to enjoy freshening up at 43,000 feet in the air.

The A380 aircraft also produces 50% less cabin noise than a 747 and has a higher cabin pressure, both features which assist in reducing the effects of travel fatigue. The full length upper and lower decks are connected by two stairways, which are wide enough to accommodate two passengers standing side by side while also allowing multiple seat configurations on the Airbus A380.

Some have expressed concern over the environmental impact a plane of the size of the A380 may have. However, powered by American aircraft engine maker, Engine Alliance's GP7200 engines, A380s have a range of up to 9,320 miles and offer better fuel economy per passenger mile than most hybrid passenger cars, burning just 3.1 litres of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometres which equates to 20% less fuel per seat than today's largest aircraft.

The distribution of digital in flight magazines will also save 2kg per seat, or almost one tonne, per aircraft, helping to make the A380 one of the greenest aircraft in the skies.