Airbus' Superjumbo to fly to India in May

NEW DELHI: The world's largest passenger aircraft, Airbus' A-380, would make its maiden flight to India on May seven and spend three days romancing the Indian skies.

The visit would mark the second anniversary celebrations of premier domestic carrier Kingfisher Airlines, which is the first and so far, the only Indian company to have ordered this full double-decker aircraft from Airbus Industries.

The four-engined aircraft, which can seat 555 people in standard three-class configuration or 853 passengers in full economy class configuration, would visit Delhi and Mumbai for three days and carry select groups of passengers on trial flights over the two cities, marking Kingfisher's promotional campaigns.

Special permission has been sought by the airline and the aircraft manufacturer Airbus Industries from the Indian authorities to bring the plane to India and operate it here.

Airport sources here said the runways at the airports at Delhi and Mumbai could successfully handle the aircraft's landing and take off.

However, the only problem would be finding a parking place for it at these airports as the massive aircraft would require a space equivalent to that occupied by three mid-sized Airbus A-320s or three Boeing-737s.

Under the modernisation plan of these two airports, high-level terminal buildings fitted with aero-bridges would be constructed to enable the aircraft park itself and the large number of passengers to board or exit.