India's four main airports are gearing up to lay out the welcome mat for the world's biggest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, when it begins flying next year.
The airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are undergoing a significant makeover to be able to receive the A380 super jumbo, which can carry 555 passengers, by the time it begins commercial operations.
The 80-foot-high twin deck, four-aisle aircraft has a wingspan of 262 feet, which is too large for average airport parking bays.
"The expansion of parking bays and twin aerobridges to cater to the new A 380 have been included in the airport modernisation plan for Mumbai and Delhi," a senior official of the Airports Authority of India said.
The taxiways would be modified to cater to the wider wheelbase of the A380 and fillets would be provided on the turns. Also, parking stands will be provided at all four airports.
A plan worth Rs.1 billion is already in motion to give a facelift to the New Delhi and Mumbai airports, the country's main international gateways. At the same time, the other two, Kolkata and Chennai, were also undergoing adjustments to receive the A380.
"By the time the plane arrives in India, it will be nearly two years. We will be ready by then," said the official. India's flag carrier Air-India has already evinced interest in the A380 although it is not on the shopping list for now. The A380 is priced at $260 million.
Work has begun on building new parking bays to take in the A380. However, officials say the runways do not have to be modified and are equipped for the landing and take off of the gigantic passenger aircraft.
The A380's large wingspan and advanced mechanism enable it to take off and land in less distance than other aircraft.
Though the existing runways do not have to be extended, officials say they may need to be strengthened to take the weight of the aircraft that is as much as seven-storeys tall.
The airports are also looking to make room for a greater number of passengers and staff needed to cater to them.
The new airbus is designed to carry up to 555 passengers but can take up to 800 passengers if the entire plane has economy class - far more than the 370 that a usual plane can carry.
The A380 will have its first trial run in March, but will operate commercially only next year.
Singapore Airlines is likely to be the first airline to fly the A 380. The Singapore airport is already equipped to host the super-sized jumbo.
Indian aviation experts say the country's airlines could do with an A380 to improve services.
The A380 has the widest cabin of any aircraft in the world and it offers 35 percent more seats than the Boeing 747-700. It can also carry more passengers on longer distances, besides having room for private cabins, cocktail bars, showers and gyms.
A string of other international airports that are spending millions of dollars to be worthy of hosting an A 380 - London's Heathrow, New York's JFK, Sydney, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Frankfurt.