PARIS - European aircraft maker Airbus said Monday its new A380, the world's largest commercial airliner, would have its maiden test flight on Wednesday, if weather conditions permit.
The A380, a twin-deck aircraft capable of carrying more than 800 people, will undergo its first airborne test near Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, southern France, an Airbus spokeswoman said.
"The first flight will take place Wednesday, if weather permits and excluding a last-minute technical glitch," the spokeswoman told AFP.
The maiden flight has been postponed several times. Airbus had initially wanted it to take place at the end of March or early April, then in early April it said it would happen in the second half of the month.
The European consortium's first A380 has been undergoing ground tests since early April.
The superjumbo aircraft is to take to the skies at Blagnac, an Airbus site near Toulouse.
More than 50,000 people are expected to witness the historic test flight, which will also be broadcast live.
The A380, capable of carrying up to 840 people, was unveiled January 18 and is scheduled to go into service next year.
Airbus Industrie is 80 percent owned by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and 20 percent by BAE Systems of Britain.
04/25/2005 08:02 GMT