*A380 comes in for repainting. Photograph: Joe Buckley
THE world’s largest passenger aircraft made a spectacular landing on Ireland’s longest runway today as the Lufthansa Airbus A380 touched down at Shannon Airport.
The double‑decker “superjumbo,” which can carry more than 500 passengers, landed at 11am this morning showcasing its extraordinary scale at 73 metres in length and 24 metres high.
Speaking on Wednesday Airport Director of Shannon Airport, Niall Kearns, said: “It’s always exciting for the public when a big plane like the A380 flies into Shannon, and it’s very impressive sitting on the runway, dwarfing more regular aircraft. With the longest runway in the country, we are well equipped to accommodate these larger scale aircraft, and we handle them quite regularly. This Airbus A380 is rarely seen in Ireland, and we’re delighted to welcome it back.”
In addition to the A380, Shannon Airport welcomed what was the world’s largest commercial aircraft, the Antonov AN-225, on many occasions prior to its demise in 2022. In 2020, the six‑storey aircraft landed with Ireland’s largest single consignment of PPE, at a pivotal moment during the COVID‑19 response. It’s smaller sibling, the Antonov AN-124, now the world’s largest cargo aircraft, is a regular visitor to Shannon Airport, most recently touching down in December 2025.
