I doubt the airfair will come down much, not for a while yet anyway! I don't think the boarding and baggage reclaim etc will much much worse than a fully loaded 747 is at the moment. Most of the A380's are going to be in a 3 class configoration with 550-600 seats rather than the 800+ it is capable of carrying with an all economy configoration. Its going to be busy, but I wouldn't think it'll be that much worse than what it currently is, especially because the airports where it will be used are being invested in to cope with the extra demands. We'll have to wait and see.

I agree with Robbo, I was at Manchester when alpha-charlie flew in for its last ever flight for retirement at the aviation viewing park. Concorde was in impressive aircraft and way ahead of its time. The A380 is very impressive and special, but for very different reasons.

This is G-BOAC's last ever landing at Manchester:

http://www.flightlevel350.com/public_viewer.php?cat=75&pic=899

Darren

bit scary that all the crew were wearing parachutes where would the plane have ended up

They're having to do some rebuilding at Gatwick too as it will be the diversion airport should virgin's "big bus" not be able to get into LHR for any reason.
Extra lounge capacity IS needed to board the passengers - but it's airbridges etc that are the real issue.

Anyone know if Manchester will be able to handle it (or anywhere else in the UK for that matter???)

I was reading that some US airports are not rushing to do the necessary work to handle the A380. Wonder if this might affect sales of the beast.

They only wore parachutes as a prcaution, they do it on all test flights. The chances of there being a major problem where they would be required to bale out was very remote. They wouldn't have performed the maiden flight if everying wasn't in the green. Imagine what it would do to Airbus' reputation if it cashed infront of the world media on its maiden flight! Testing was done over remote areas of France, mainly to the south-west of Tolouse towards the pyranese to minimise impact should anything go wrong.

Manchester isn't A380 complient at the moment and there are currently no airlines planning on using the A380 in to MAN. I remember seeing that MAN should be able to accept the A380 from 2008/09 providing airlines indicate they would be using the A380.

Darren

The construction work going on at Heathrow includes the preparation of the south runway, realignment and widening of taxiways, and the expansion of the halls. The construction of the new Pier 6 at Terminal 3 is due to be completed by the end of this year. The pier, which will be used by Emirates, will undergo A380 compatibility tests in January 2006. Heathrow's new Terminal 5 which will be used by BA, will also have five A380-compatible stands even though BA hasn't ordered any A380s yet. Gatwick and Stansted could both handle an A380 in an emergency so Heathrow's north runway won't be getting upgraded anytime soon.

Heard a rumour that the new airbridge at Gatwick that is linking the North Terminal building with some of the gates (and which the taxi way to the South terminal satellite gates runs under) has just been completed but is 6 ft too low for the A380 to go under it If this is true then I bet someone at the BAA is embarrassed

I read that they will let the tyres down to creep under the bridge and re-inflate them later!

Only joking, I bet someones backside is getting a little moist at the prospect of a multi £M cock-up.

Not just a rumour Traveller. The Gatwick airbridge is 22m above the taxiway. An A380 is 24.1m high. Whoops!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4598779.stm

Dont think it will be a problem it just means the A380 will have to use a gate at the other end of the North terminal, it dosnt effect the south terminal at all and as most flights using that end of the north terminal are BA flights who havnt ordered them (yet!!!) its not an issue.

Have been under the new bridge and it is pretty impressive I did try to have a walk over last time I flew out (a couple of weeks ago) but didnt have time.

Rob

I was at Manchester when alpha-charlie flew in for its last ever flight for retirement at the aviation viewing park. Concorde was in impressive aircraft and way ahead of its time.

And how proud I am to be Mancunian and have such a marvellous piece of aviation history just a short drive away I didn't make it to the Viewing Park for that final landing, but I got a lump in my throat watching it on TV - and now whenever we go on holiday from Manchester Airport, our ordinary plane will pass Concorde and remind us all that the vast majority of us missed our chance to do one of the things that everyone should have done in their lifetime
However, I hope to be able to use the new Airbus one day. I guess fares will be expensive for the first few years, but as long as airlines make the most of the extra space and give us plenty of legroom, then it may well be worth it. Although I can imagine some budget airlines putting in all 800 seats and cramming us in like sardines...

You might be interested in this. Its the video I filmed of alfa-charlie making her final approach and landing. Its not the best quality, I didn't have my tripod then, but its watchable. The sounds of those RR-Olympus engines on full reverse is immense compared to aircraft such as 747's. Even when it was at the oposite side of the airport, its still louder than a 747 at take off power 100m infront of you!

http://www.flightlevel350.com/public_viewer.php?cat=75&pic=899

Darren

good video I got a lump in my throat (again) just watching it - there'll never be anything like it, not in the near or distant future, we're too concerned with cost and environmental issues to put something like that into the air again

only just found this topic, A380 and concorde i was lucky enough to fly on concorde once in the 1980's but its so if you want to know pm me
as for the A380 well from what i have seen most airlines are planning to put 500 too 550 seats in it, the only time i can see it getting up to 700+ at the moment is if any airlines in japan order it for the domestic market (none have so far)

as for the first flight yes singapore-london should be the first flight but i was reading the other day it was put back at least six months, what was not clear was if it was airbus(programme slipage), airline(not enough passengers) or airport(not going to be ready) fault, only time will tell i guess.

It's Airbus themselves that have caused the delay. Some sources say it's mainly due to the Airbus plant in Hamburg apparently not assembling some components correctly, therefore delaying plane assembly in Toulouse. Other sources say it's caused by cabin fitting problems because the first 15 planes all have totally different interior specs.

Airbus at Paris airshow....

CLICK HERE

The A380 as seen from space

CLICK HERE

Did anyone watch the Channel 4 documentary earlier this evening about building/testing the A380? It was really interesting