The Hindu Business Line : `Most Indian airports not geared for A380'

Kolkata May 9 Kolkata will have to wait for a while for the Airbus A380 as the city airport's existing infrastructure cannot handle the "super jumbo", according to a senior airport official.

"Currently it will not be possible for the A380 to operate from here. But post-modernisation, the airport will not only be able to accommodate large aircrafts like Airbus A380 but will also compare with any other airport in the world," the official told Business Line when asked about the city airport's preparedness to accommodate the A380.

In fact, apart from New Delhi and Mumbai, no other airport in the country is equipped to meet the requirements of Airbus A380 operations.

Runway length

The runway length required by an A380 is similar to that of a Boeing 747.

However, the 79.8-metre wingspan of the A380 necessitates a wider runway than what is currently available at Indian airports, senior officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) in New Delhi told Business Line.

In addition, multiple aerobridges are needed to facilitate boarding on both decks.

According to AAI officials, such aerobridges are currently not available at Indian airports. Parking seems another area of concern with most Indian airports lacking the surplus space that could be used for the A380.

The A380 test aircraft has so far visited the airports in Mumbai and New Delhi for compatibility testing.

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