2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the A-380’s maiden flight, on 27 April 2005. It was a blue-sky day in Toulouse, France. At exactly 10:30 am the first A-380 ever produced, flight test aircraft MSN001, embarked on its maiden flight.      

The A-380 incorporated components made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), opening the way for their large-scale adoption on the A-350. 

Over 380 patents –the number is a coincidence— were registered during the aircraft’s design, ranging from noise-reducing acoustic panelling to weight-saving, safety-improving hydraulic systems. Both went on to become the norm in aircraft design and production. The A350’s Trent XWB engine even flew for the first time under the wing of an A380 flight test aircraft. 

The innovation continues to this day. Aircraft MSN001 serves as a testbed for continuous improvement, enhancing the highest standards of safety and reliability. 

MSN001 kicked off a new flight campaign in March 2025, when it took to the skies for the first time in three years. The campaign will support certification of all the latest developments that keep the in-service fleet flying. 

Moreover, two decades after its maiden flight Airbus has selected the A-380 as its future propulsion systems flight demonstrator. 

Data gathered from the campaign will serve to assess the definition of a next-generation single-aisle industry's aircraft, as well as to prepare teams from across the company for its launch. 

Labelled at the time as Airbus’ ‘21st-century flagship’, the aircraft enabled it to finally offer a full range of products, catering to every market segment. 

Today some 180 A-380s are in service at airports around the world. 

Since its entry into commercial service in 2007, the airplane has flown over 800,000 flights and carried more than 300 million passengers.