Airbus A380-Largest Passenger Plane Sets World Record

Sydney Airport, Australia--The world's largest and most luxurious passenger plane completed its first commercial flight Thursday, travelling from Singapore to Sydney. With 455 passengers and 30 crew aboard, including four pilots, the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 took off from Changi Airport and landed seven hours later in the Australian city.The so-called superjumbo jet, filled with posh suites and double beds, runs on four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines. Flight attendants passed around champagne to flyers, some of whom shelled out thousands of dollars to be part of the craft's maiden journey.

Seven storeys tall with wings big enough to hold 70 cars, the A380 replaces the Boeing 747 jumbo jet as the world's biggest passenger airline. It's capable of carrying 853 passengers if the plane was configured purely for economy class. However Singapore Airlines decided instead to provide 471 seats in three classes - 12 private suites, 60 business class seats, and 399 economy-class seats. The suites feature a leather upholstered seat, a table, a flat-screen television, laptop connections and a bed that folds up into the wall. Business class seats can be transformed into beds, while even the economy class spaces have more leg and knee room.