Prepare the Way for the A380

It hasn't even come into commercial use yet, but the Airbus A380 is generating unequalled buzz in the air travel industry. This new passenger jet could carry over 800 passengers. Clear the runway, this mammoth jetliner is gearing up for its arrival.

The sheer size of this aircraft will mean reconfiguring runways, and adjusting airports to fit this huge airliner.

In mid 2006, Singapore Airlines is set to debut the A380 in its fleet. Lufthansa will start flying the A380 in 2007, and Emirates has so far been the biggest customer for this new aircraft. Qantas will receive its first A380 in October 2006, this will serve as the first A380 to hit North American shores as it plans to fly from Australia to Los Angeles. These are a few of the airlines investing in this huge aircraft. Getting airports on-board however, is not as easy.

Because of the size and the need for a longer landing strip, the A380 means that most airports would have to upgrade their runways to accommodate - a costly measure. In fact, few airport authorities are willing to commit the time and disruption that upgrading would cost. In Europe, larger airports such as London's Heathrow, and Frankfurt will invest in the changes. And in North America, as yet only Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York's JFK and Miami have agreed to make the necessary changes for the A380.

The A380's maiden voyage is ushering in the predicted age of mass transport on airliners. Airbus has documented the voyage so that all can see what was considered a flight of fancy, is now very real.