New plane: flights of fancy?

Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet in the world, is being hit with some turbulence over reports that the aircraft isn’t nearly as green as its makers have espoused.

The company claims that with 17 percent fewer emissions than the old Boeing 747s, the A380 is one of the most environmentally friendly passenger jets ever built. However, according to the Guardian Unlimited, those calculations are based on the plane flying with 555 passengers and no luggage, which isn’t likely. For instance, Singapore Airlines’ recent maiden commercial flight with the A380 held 471 passengers.

The giant plane reportedly can carry as many as 853 passengers, although carriers such Singapore Airlines say the typical three-class configuration, which gives more space to customers, will result in fewer than 480 passengers.