Size matters and how. The world’s biggest commercial aircraft, Airbus A 380, may fly in on July 14 when the country’s biggest airport
terminal, IGI’s T3, becomes operational. The Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) has sent invites to the heads of all international airlines that fly to IGI to showcase their products at the grand T3 inaugural function.
One of the leading Gulf carriers, which has a whopping 90 A 380s on order and is a market leader in India, had earlier expressed the desire to send the aircraft on July 3, the inauguration day. But concerns over the security of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will inaugurate the terminal, and the fact that the superjumbo may compete for limelight with the spank new T3, made authorities here suggest another date.
The airline will now send the aircraft on the first day of operations of T3 — July 14-15. Sources said authorities here will seek a one-off permission to bring the superjumbo as a grand finale to the inaugural ceremonies.
The A-380 won’t be the first aircraft to land once T3 begins operations on July 14. An Air India aircraft will be the first plane to have passengers embark or disembark from T3. It’s all about Indian pride too. India has got its best airport terminal so far and it’s fitting that an AI plane be the first to land or take off, said sources.
The sources said the Airbus is also keen to bring the aircraft to Delhi as the capital already has a code F runway, meaning an airstrip that is long and wide enough to accommodate the A-380. Some years back, Kingfisher had brought in the A-380 on its anniversary but the plane landed on runway 28 that was not code F but accommodated the A-380 with some adjustments on the runway shoulders. Ever since runway 29 became operational less than two years back, the airport developer and Airbus have been keen to show how the new strip can handle the A-380 with ease.
Mega airlines such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Emirates currently operate this superjumbo. All these airlines have already sent teams to Delhi to inspect if this plane can land here. Lufthansa is learnt to be keen to bring the plane on regular service to Delhi but is yet to get permissions.
There are fears that if any foreign airline brings the A-380 on regular service to Delhi, it will have a negative impact on Indian carriers in terms of weaning away flyers as the superjumbo has a huge appeal for fliers.
Kingfisher’s delivery of the A-380s is not due for some years at least. So the A-380 flying in the next month will be a rare opportunity for people here to see the aircraft in action, said the sources.
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