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Planemaker Airbus handed over the first A380 superjumbo in an official ceremony today, 18 months after the flagship jet was due for delivery.

The manufacture of the A380 was plagued by production delays, while top executives at Airbus' parent company EADS are currently being investigated over allegations of insider trading.

But today Airbus bosses sought to put the company's past troubles behind them, handing over the first A380 to Singapore Airlines during a ceremony in Toulouse, France.

The airline is putting the next generation double-decker plane into commercial service between Singapore and Sydney from October 28th.

Space for 471 passengers is available in the cabin of the Singapore Airlines A380, although Airbus' giant plane is capable of carrying more than 500.

Commenting on the handover, Singapore Airlines chief executive Chew Choon Seng said the delivery of the first A380 marked "the beginning of a new chapter for the aviation industry".

Airbus president and chief executive Tom Enders added that it was a "landmark day" for all those who had worked to see the A380 delivered.

"It is also a tribute to all the engineers and workers who developed the A380, as well as all our customers who selected this magnificent and highly efficient jetliner," he said.

"We appreciate the confidence they have shown in Airbus and for staying with us through troubled times."

Airbus claims that advanced technologies mean that seat-mile costs for the A380 will be 20 per cent lower than for the world's former largest aircraft, with the company hoping that the plane will meet the growing demand for long-haul travel.

So far the company has received orders and commitments for 189 A380s from 16 customers, with Airbus stressing that planes for subsequent delivery remain "well on track".

However analysts believe the planemaker must sell 420 models of the A380 in order to make a profit following the production delays that hit its development.

The delivery of the first A380 comes after Airbus' arch rival announced last week that the first deliveries of its new plane would be delayed by six months due to production problems.

US manufacturer Boeing said the first 787 Dreamliners would not now be delivered until late November or December 2008.