27 November 2003LONDON - The British Airports Authority is forecasting
that the new Airbus A380 mega-jumbo aircraft will increase
Heathrow's capacity by 10 million passengers a year.
The double-decker A380, which can carry up to 600
passengers, is due to come into service with Singapore
Airlines in 2006, followed by Virgin Atlantic.
A BAA spokesman said he expected the new aircraft to
account for up to 60,000 take-off and landings a year by
2016. Airports around the world are having to construct or
rebuild facilities to enable them to handle the A380.
BAA is starting work on shortening jetties to make room
for the aircraft's 80m wingspan and installing bigger
baggage carousels to cope with the additional passengers on
each flight.