PARIS, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) - The billionaire Russian owner of Chelsea football club, Roman Abramovich, has ordered an Airbus A380, the world's biggest airliner, for use as his private jet, a report said Wednesday.

French newspaper Le Figaro, which did not cite sources, said Abramovich was the mystery buyer behind an order for an A380 VIP, which was revealed by Airbus at the Paris Air Show in June this year.

The doubledecker A380, which enters service later this year, is capable of carrying 840 passengers, measures 73 metres in length (239-feet) and towers over its biggest rival, the Boeing 747.

Airbus sales director John Leahy had told AFP about the order in June, saying it would be for use by the buyer "and his entourage."