World's largest commercial aircraft in Auckland this week

Check back on Friday for photos and video of the A380 arriving in Auckland.

Complimentary pyjamas and seats which fold out to a two-metre long bed are being offered by Australian airline Qantas to woo passengers on to its newest aircraft.

Qantas has ordered 20 of the 560-tonne Airbus A380 aircraft, the largest commercial aircraft in the world.

The first Qantas A380 will be in Auckland later this week for a promotional flight over the city before Qantas begins regular scheduled flights between Australia and the United States this year and from Australia to London early next year.

The promotional flight to Auckland on Friday is likely to be the only flight into New Zealand by a Qantas A380 for some time.

The airline said today it did not plan a scheduled service from Auckland with the new aircraft.

Emirates Airlines begins the first scheduled commercial flight by an A380 aircraft from Auckland in February. Emirates has ordered 58 A380 aircraft.

The new Qantas A380 has been configured to carry 450 passengers in a variety of classes, including the international business class which offers complimentary pyjamas, in-seat telephones, a laptop power supply and internet connections.

Other airlines are offering up to 525 seats and on Emirates flights first-class passengers will also be offered five-minute, in-flight showers - the first time showers have been offered on commercial flights.

Rival airline Singapore Airlines offered private cabins and double beds when it started flying A380 planes last year.

At 73 metres long, the A380 is twice the length of the A320 which fly into Auckland on scheduled flights. It is also twice as high at 24 metres, has a range of 15,000km and carries 310,000 litres of fuel.

- NZPA