Qantas Airways Staircases roll up to the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft. The A380 is eight stories tall, has a 261-foot wingspan and can carry 555 passengers.
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Innovation aboard the Airbus A380

Staircases -- Airbus A380 at LAX

Qantas Airways

Staircases roll up to the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. The A380 is eight stories tall, has a 261-foot wingspan and can carry 555 passengers.  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Economy class -- Airbus A380 at LAX

Qantas Airways

Each seat in economy class of this version of the A380 gets its own video monitor.  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Business class -- Airbus A380 at LAX

Qantas Airways

Robert Wrigley of Airbus demonstrates seats in the business class of this version of the A380.  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Airbus -- first class

Qantas Airways

Steve Duchesne, a guest from a public relations firm, stretches out in the first-class seating on the main deck of the A380. About 150 guests took a demonstration flight of the aircraft out of Los Angeles International Airport.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sir Richard Branson

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic won’t yet release details of its plans for its A380s, but Virgin’s founder, Richard Branson, has hinted that amenities such as spas, double beds, gyms and casinos would be aboard. Virgin Atlantic plans to roll out its planes in 2013.  (Scott Wintrow / Getty Images)

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