The A380's public debut will be at the Paris air show in June.

The company is unable to promise a widely anticipated fly-past to show off the aircraft, though it is dismissive of rumours that such a display could be called off because the delayed start of flight trials means it will not have time to clock up the required number of flight hours.

Either way, plane-spotters might see the bird in the air ahead of the show, since the only way it can get there is to fly.