Airports Scrambling to Make Room for Huge Airbus Jetliner

Airports around the world are working to prepare for the arrival in 2007 of the huge Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, a plane so large that some airports must build new facilities to accommodate it. 

Dozens of airports around the world are scrambling to reinforce runways, widen taxiways, speed up baggage-handling systems and build high capacity gates with supersized lounges.  This is necessary to handle the expected crush of people and luggage brought on by an aircraft capable of seating more than 850 — that’s no typo — 850 passengers.  This is nearly TWICE as many passengers as the largest Boiing 747 jumbo jet held.

Cities that Airbus expects will have the most A380 traffic by 2023 are London, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Beijing, Seoul, Los Angeles, Shangai, Frankfurt, Taipei, Tokyo Haneida, Paris, Sydney and New York.  San Francisco has already added the latest enhancements to a terminal capable of handling the A380.

Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth and Orlando have taken steps to get ready for A380 flights. Though Los Angeles boasts more jumbo-jet traffic than New York, the airport faces tough challenges in revamping its cramped, 1960s facilities to get ready to become the busiest U.S. gateway for the A380.

If your dreams include flying this awesome aircraft, call Phoenix East today.  Talk to an Admissions Officer about how to get started on a professional jet pilot career path.