Airbus, the company that now produces the world-famous planes of the same name, including the super-jumbo A380, evolved out of earlier European aviation companies, including Aerospatiale, the company that built Concorde. Aviation and defence companies from France, UK, Germany, Spain and Italy have all joined in at some stage.

The first planes coming off the production line in Toulouse (though the wings were and still are made in Bristol) were the A300, the world's first twin-aisle, twin-jet aircraft, which made its first commercial flight, in Air France colours, in 1974. Holding about 250 passengers the plane was designed for short to medium haul routes, with Paris being linked to several close European cities by the plane. A modification, the A310, slightly smaller, followed ten years later – both versions ceased production in 2007.

By 1984 Airbus decided it needed to be in the market for short haul jets, in direct competition to the hugely successful Boeing 737. The A320 was launched, making its first flights in 1988 with Air Inter, another French airline. From this followed the A318 and A319, all in the 100-150 passenger capacity size. The A320 was the world's first commercial airplane to have a fly-by-wire control system, with all the exterior moving parts controlled electronically rather than manually as with other planes. The technology was taken from the military. A stretched version, the A321, came into service in 1994.

Airbus also had designs on the long-haul market and launched its successful A340 programme, a wide-bodid four-engine aircraft, in early 1993, Air France taking the first deliveries. By the end of he same year another twin-jet, again wide-bodied, the A330, was in service, giving Airbus a toehold in every size and range of jet aircraft.

Yet their ambitions went higher – or were, perhaps, bigger – for they then decided to launch the world's largest commercial jet, the A380. A four-engined wide-body, with, uniquely, a second level, making it a double-decker throughout its length (unlike the Boeing 747 for example, which has a smaller upper deck at the front. The A380 is capable of carrying 853 passengers, though most airlines are ordering them with about 500 seats, including several of the seat-beds that are now so popular in business and first class on long haul flights.

The A380 made its first flight on 27th April 2005 and, after extensive testing for such a revolutionary plane, its first commercial flight, with Singapore Airlines, on 15th October, 2007. It is now flying regularly between Singapore and both London and Sydney.

For the future Airbus has the A350 series, a wide-bodied twin jet aimed at carrying 250-350 passengers, though the programme has been delayed by both technical and financial problems. Delivery is expected in 2011.

Airbus, partly because of its origins and partly for political reasons, manufactures its planes in stages in various countries rather than in one place. Interestingly, Boeing is also moving along this route, particularly as Asian countries are demanding that certain production be brought to their countries. The Airbus A380 makes a good case-study. The front and rear sections of the fuselage are made in Hamburg and shipped to Toulouse by ship, canal barge and road; the wings are made in Bristol and sent by sea and road; the centre part of the fuselage including the wing box, and the tail, are made in Spain and also sent by sea. After assembly in Toulouse the planes are flown to Hamburg to be painted (with 950 gallons of paint !). See our section on "How a plane is built". Also see the special section dedicated to the "A380 Superjumbo".