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Mr David Vellupillai, Regional Manager (Press Relations), Airbus Industrie, addressing a press conference in the Capital on Monday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Feb. 7

INDIAN airports that can receive the Boeing 747 aircraft can also receive the newly unveiled European aircraft Airbus A-380, a senior Airbus official said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Airbus's Regional Manager, Press Relations, Mr David Velupillai, said that Airbus A-380 could land and take off from Delhi and Mumbai airports.

"The aircraft would be able to land at these airports but will not be able to park at the airport terminal. You will have to bus the people from the aircraft to the terminal," Mr Velupillai added.

The first Airbus A-380 aircraft is scheduled to enter into commercial service in 2006 with Singapore Airlines.

Refuting charges that the aircraft manufacturer had stolen a march over competition by offering price reductions, Mr Velupillai said Airbus had marched ahead due to the benefits that the aircraft had to offer to airlines.

Airbus claims to have delivered 320 aircraft during 2004 as against 285 delivered by its American competitor, Boeing. The European aircraft manufacturer expressed confidence that it would be able to do better than Boeing during the current year also.

While refusing to comment on the on-going price negotiations with Indian Airlines, Mr Velupillai said that the airline could look at getting leased aircraft as an interim measure till the aircraft that it is to purchase are available.

Globally it takes several months after the deal is finalised for the first aircraft to be delivered to the airline. IA is to acquire 43-Airbus airplanes at an estimated cost of over Rs 9,400 crore.

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