Gatwick cleared for A380 superjumbo flights
Date added: 19 October, 2010
19.10.2010 (BBC)
Gatwick Airport has been granted planning permission to operate the world’s largest
commercial airliner, the 555-seat Airbus A380 superjumbo.
An Emirates Airbus A380 was the first to land at Manchester on 1 September
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which operate from the West Sussex airport,
have both ordered the plane.
Previously, Heathrow and Manchester and Stansted were the only UK airports to
regularly accommodate the aircraft, first flown by Singapore Airlines in October
2007.
It landed at Manchester for the first time on 1 September.
‘Represents the future’
Gatwick has spent £43m preparing for the A380, with two of its six new large
aircraft stands able to accommodate it.
Planning permission was granted by Crawley Borough Council.
“The Airbus A380 represents the future of long-haul aviation,” said Gatwick chief
executive Stewart Wingate.
“It’s modern, more efficient and uses less fuel per passenger, and we want Gatwick
to be at the centre of this exciting new era of long-haul travel.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11569507
see also
Stansted and Manchester airports now officially ‘A380 READY’
19th August 2010 The CAA has said Manchester is “A380 ready”. The first A380 at the airport is
due to be an Emirates plane, in 2 weeks. Only 17 airports globally (4 in England)
are certified for the A380, as it is so large. Manchester has spent more than
£10 million upgrading to the standards needed for the Emirates super-jumbo, including
reconstructing a new aircraft stand with state of the art equipment including
an advance docking system. Stansted now also approved. Click here to view full story…
Posted: Tuesday, October 19th, 2010. Filed in News about Airports.
