(CNN) — Beloved by passengers for its spaciousness and comfort, but disliked by airlines because of its running costs, the Airbus A380 has already entered its sunset years, even though it debuted commercially just 14 years ago.
The superjumbo was conceived at a time when larger planes carrying hundreds of passengers between hubs were an attractive proposition, but by the time it started flying, a different business model -- smaller planes connecting smaller airports -- had taken over in the aviation industry.
Now several airlines -- including Emirates, British Airways and Singapore -- are offering long-haul flights on the superjumbo again.
Whether you plan to catch a flight on an A380 while you still have the chance or not, here's our pick of the 20 most interesting facts about this unique aircraft.
1. Bigger than ever
2. Wires for miles
Wired for flight: Each A380 has more than 300 miles of cabling.
Gideon Mendel/Corbis/Getty Images
3. Turbulent air
4. A serious paint job
Blank canvas: It takes a lot of paint to decorate an A380.
Etienne De Malglaive/Getty Images
It takes 950 gallons of paint to cover the entire 38,000-square-feet surface of an A380. A regular layer of paint adds 1,400 lbs of weight to the plane. The process usually takes about two weeks.
5. No need to pack light
The cargo hold of an A380 can carry up to 3,000 suitcases, and two loading belts -- one at the front and one at the back -- can be used simultaneously to speed up the process.
6. A true globalist
Each A380 is made of 4 million individual components, produced by 1,500 companies from 30 different countries. They all used to converge via road, air and sea to Toulouse, in the south of France, where the final aircraft was assembled.
7. A chance of showers
Splashy feature: The A380 has room for showers.
Pawel Dwulit/Toronto Star/Getty Images
8. More room than a basketball court
With its full-length double deck, the A380 offers almost 6,000 square feet of usable floor space, about 40% more than the second largest airliner, the Boeing 747-8.
9. Loved by Emirates
10. You can own a piece of one
Drink it in: Emirates has been selling off the bar from a retired A380.
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images
11. The secret compartment
12. Not for everyone
Snug fit: Munich's A380 adaptations.
Courtesy Munich Airport
13. The longest flight
Emirates operates the A380's longest scheduled passenger flight: Dubai to Auckland, 8,800 miles and over 17 hours in the air. In 2019, Qantas flew one of its A380s back to base in Sydney from Dresden, Germany, after refurbishment. The plane was empty and flew for over 18 hours and about 10,000 miles.
14. The shortest flight
15. The cargo version that never was
Cargo-only: The A380's canceled freight version.
AFP/Getty Images
When Airbus launched the A380 in December 2000, it offered a cargo version called A380F, designed to compete with the equivalent cargo-only models of the Boeing 747. UPS and FedEx both initially placed orders for the plane, but after its release was delayed they canceled them, leading to the cancellation of the A380F program itself.
16. Flappy wings
17. Jumbo depreciation
18. Two per wing
Thirsty workers: The A380 has four jet engines.
Frank Rumpenhorst/DPA/AFP/Getty Images
The plane's four engines are both one of its most distinctive factors and a drawback, as they require more fuel than twin-engined jets. They are made by either Rolls-Royce in the UK or Engine Alliance in the United States, and can lift the airplane's maximum takeoff weight of 650 tonnes to cruising altitude in 15 minutes.
19. No US buyers
One of the main reasons why the A380 was never a commercial success is the fact that not a single US airline ever bought the plane. Major European carriers such as Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa did, but in small numbers. By the time the A380 was available, US carriers had already moved away from jumbo planes and towards more fuel-efficient, twin-engined aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350.
20. A partial comeback
Lufthansa has decided to retire its A380 fleet.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
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20 astonishing facts about the A380 superjumbo - CNN
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