World's Largest Passenger Plane Completes Maiden Test Flight

The world`s largest passenger plane, the Airbus A-380, has completed its first test flight.

Thousands watched as the plane took off Wednesday, from an airport near Airbus headquarters outside the southern French city of Toulouse, then landed safely nearly four hours later.

French President Jacques Chirac hailed the success of the flight. In a statement, he called it a magnificent result of European industrial cooperation that encourages the building of a Europe of innovation and progress.

The plane carried a six-member crew and 20 metric tons of equipment to monitor in-flight data. The four engine, four-aisle, double-deck aircraft is designed to carry 555 passengers, but has room for more than 800.

With its A-380, Airbus hopes to lure customers away from its longtime rival, U.S.-based Boeing. Boeing`s 747 has long dominated the jumbo jet market.