On 6 May 2007, world's largest
passenger aircraft - Airbus A380 - landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport
in Delhi.
Delhi Airport became the first airport
in India and amongst the select few in Asia to host this gargantuan aircraft.
The aircraft which is visiting India on a test cum promotional visit for Airbus
and Kingfisher Airlines, flew into Delhi from Airbus headquarters in Toulouse,
France.
The A380 will be in Delhi from 6th-8th
May 2007, for airport compatibility trials and demonstration flights. Kingfisher
Airlines, the aircraft's first customers in India will be organising the
demonstration flights.
The Delhi Airport is currently among
very few airports in India, capable of handling the aircraft. By 2008, Delhi
Airport will be able to handle commercial flights of the A380 with the
commissioning of its new Code F runway. Construction of a world class integrated
passenger terminal (Terminal 3) is also underway at Delhi, and will be
commissioned in 2010. This terminal will cater to both international and
domestic traffic.
The runway at GMR Hyderabad Airport,
being developed by GMR Group will have a runway that will perhaps be India's
first Code F complaint, ready to host wide bodied aircraft commercially in early
2008.
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