The Future of Flight

Airbus380: The World's biggest aircraft

Sarah Montague talks to Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Charles Champion, about the launch of the world's biggest passenger aircraft, the Airbus 380.

The biggest passenger aircraft in the world, the new Airbus 380, which comes into service in the autumn lands for the first time at Heathrow airport today.

The aircraft will take 555 passengers and fly between the world's major hubs such as London, Sydney, Dubai and Singapore.

But will the success of the A380 be sufficient to fight off competition from Boeing who are currently outselling Airbus by three aircraft to one?

And will Airbus have to give in to critics and redesign the A350 currently in development?

HARDtalk can be seen on BBC World at 0330 GMT 0830 GMT 1530 GMT 1830 GMT 2330 GMT

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 0430 and 2330