A380s wanna fly here - are the airports ready?

Along with Lufthansa, atleast three airline companies are attempting to bring the A380 planes to India. But these companies are still waiting for the infrastructure to be built, and only then will they be able to finalise their plans in India and in the route proving issue.

The A380 plane painted in the Lufthansa colours will only be available to customers/ flyers after 2009 but the preparations to bring this plane to India are in full swing. And in the first step in that direction, this 380 carrying 500 passengers flew to Hong Kong. The attempt was ensure the plane was tested in different routes and this was the first time that a Lufthansa pilot was test flying the plane along with the airbus pilot for a long haul flight. German airlines have ordered 15 of these huge birds and are planning to bring them to India.

Member, Passenger Airline Board, Lufthansa, Holgar Haety told CNBC-TV18, "The plane will be available by autumn 2009 and the plan is to bring it to India as well, then we are ready."

Orders for over 150 such palatial planes have been placed, by companies like Virgin and Emirates who like Lufthansa, have expressed their intent to bring these planes to India. Now the wait begins - for Mumbai and Delhi's international airports to beef up infrastructure so they can operate these double decker planes. These planes can carry a minimum of 500 passengers at once, but if all seats were to be made only economy class, that number could go upto 800 passengers. For now, the delay in delivering the world's biggest plane is caused by the industrial unrest in Airbus, but officials say there will not be any more delay.

Director, Airbus, Richard Carcaillet says, "Everything will be resolved by the end of this year and Singapore Airlines will get its delivery soon."

The USP of the plane is the camera fixed to the plane's tail, thanks to which passengers can see the plane take off or land or even as it flies through clouds. And the economy class seats have been modified and given extra space so you don't have to use your neighbour's shoulder for a pillow! The A380 with all these accessories will be also a part of Kingfisher's fleet but that will take atleast another three years.

Shishir Sinha