Brawo super!

[robert_windsor]

Airport readies for Airbus
By Steve Creedy
05jan05
SYDNEY Airport is pushing ahead with modifications to cater for the giant
Airbus A380, despite a breakdown in negotiations with airlines about a long-
term pricing plan to cover airport charges and arguments over who should pay
for the work.

Sydney's decision means all potential A380 destinations in Australia will be
ready to accept the double-decker superjumbo, due to be officially unveiled
later this month, by the time it comes into service in 2006.

Sydney Airport Corporation (SACL) will spend $100 million upgrading the
airport and confirmed yesterday that work would start this year.

Singapore Airlines, the launch customer for the plane, has said Sydney will
be one of its first destinations.

Qantas has bought 12 of the giant planes, and other airlines considering
flying them to Sydney include Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines,
Federal Express and Cathay Pacific.









Capital construction includes widening runways and taxiway shoulders,
construction of additional pavements to allow taxiway centrelines to be
adjusted and relocation of airfield navigational and visual aid equipment.

It will also mean the construction of additional aerobridges at the
international terminal and minor parking changes.

"The introduction of these new large aircraft represents an exciting and
revolutionary step in aviation development and Sydney Airport will be a front
runner in the delivery of superior service to the A380s," the airport said.

Board of Airline Representatives of Australia executive director Warren
Bennett said airlines accepted SACL's assurances that the airport would be
capable of accepting the superjumbos when they entered service.