Airport Modifications Required For A380?

[Whadayano]

I read somewhere that the modifications required for jetways, spacing, and other handling facilities at major airports around the world to accomodate the A380 might run $3 billion. I noticed in an article that in Branson's negotiations with LAX concerning the potential site of Virgin's new LCC for the US, one of the issues on the table is modification of LAX to handle A380's (which Virgin Atlantic has on order). Anyone else hear anything?

 

[faver]

yeah i have heard such things. just cuz its so big. the wing tips woudn't fit in most places. they stick out over other taxi ways etc. its just to big, that its hard for it to fit a place like LAX which is not really that big, or its so crouded there on the property it self.

 

[JFK777]

The A380 is an airpalne usedat only about 20 airports worldwide. SYD,SIN,NRT, HKG, LAX,SFO, JFK, LHR, CDG, & FRA are prbably the main ones. This palne will only be used to 747 heavy airports. LHR especially since so many overseas aorlines plan to use it there. Orders for the A380 still have a long way to go since so many potential users like BA or the Japanesse haven't considered it yet.

 

[Just Plane Crazy]

Sure it would be nice if BA or JL would look at the A380, but with current +125 firm orders on the book there are to many airlines (LH, KA, SQ etc) that will have some kind of influance. Airports will at the end follow the request of the airlines (they pay the bill) but the airports are looking at who is going to put up the money untill the airlines will pay (landing fees etc.).

It is a political game and at the end we will see the A380 landing at (as JFK777 wrote) a few B747 heavy airports (in addition to the ones he mentioned there are ORD, JNB, DBX, AMS, HNL, SEL, MNL, BKK etc. etc. etc.)

The biggest problem are not the Dim's. It is the weight. Most airports can't support the +1,000,000 lb.

And yes, Branson made it clear to LAX that if they want his new LCC to be HQ in LAX they have to get going on upgrading the airport for A380 traffic.