Quick Links Accommodating the largest commercial aircraft in the skies Airports are adapting around the globe Minimum requirements for the Airbus A380 Where can large aircraft park at the airport? Specialist upper deck access Unique airports around the world welcome double-decker aircraft
When it comes to flying, a range of aircraft could meet you at the gate. Airports across the globe can accommodate varying aircraft depending on several factors, such as runway length, passenger capacity, and border facilities. But what does an airport need to accommodate the largest commercial aircraft in service? The Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 come with their own wishlists.
Accommodating the largest commercial aircraft in the skies
For an airport to accommodate the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 can bring many benefits, such as increased passenger numbers, more capacity per flight, and less per-seat environmental impacts. However, the Airbus A380 has several compatibility requirements to accommodate such an aircraft of its size.
Costly infrastructure changes are required to fully accommodate large aircraft, which can carry more than 500 passengers as detailed in the video above. Nonetheless, airports can see these costs as a worthwhile investment if they enable large passenger jet arrivals.
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Accommodating an Airbus A380 with significantly wider wheels and a huge wingspan requires ample space for movement and ensures that the buildings that could impede its path are far away from taxiways and gates. Here are a few requirements for such large aircraft:
Wider runways They must be at least 200 feet wide for the Airbus A380, compared to 150 for the Boeing 747.
Wider taxiways To ensure there is ample space between the aircraft and other parked planes.
Larger terminal areas With aircraft able to accommodate up to 600 passengers, there must be adequate space in the terminals, along with services to match.
Improved screening areas To be able to accommodate a large influx of people at once.
Baggage system enhancements To manage a large amount of baggage at once.
More gate space Wider parking areas for the aircraft, given their wingspans.
Dual passenger boarding bridges To enable efficiency while boarding. Usually, when boarding double-decker aircraft, you may see the premium passengers boarding via one bridge while economy class guests board on the other.
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For Airbus A380 passengers, sometimes the aircraft is boarded up to 90 minutes before departure: this is due to the large number of guests who have to line up, have their boarding passes checked, wait and board via the airbridge, find their seats, and store any personal items. This is in addition to other factors behind the scenes, such as refueling the aircraft, loading the customers' baggage, and any other provisions required onboard.
Airports are adapting around the globe
Around the globe, airports are making changes to accommodate the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. However, the infrastructure upgrade costs can spiral into the millions, excluding other terminal enhancements such as additional shopping and eatery areas. However, an airport will likely see a quick return on its investment. Such airports in the United States and Canada that accommodate the double-decker aircraft include (but are not limited to):
Canada
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
United States
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) Denver International Airport (DEN) Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Miami International Airport (MIA) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Orlando International Airport (MCO) Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Las Vegas Harry Ried International Airport (LAS)
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Minimum requirements for the Airbus A380
Airports that welcome Airbus A380 must meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classification F special requirements set out below, as noted by Airbus:
Items
ICAO Code F minimum standards
AACG A380 minimum requirements
Runway width
197 feet (60 metres)
148 feet (45 meters)
Runway shoulder width
Two x 25 feet (7.5 metres)
Two x 50 feet (15 meters)
Taxiway width
82 feet (25 metres)
76 feet (23 meters)
Taxiway shoulder width
Two x 58 feet (17.5 metres)
Two x 61 feet (18.5 meters)
Taxiway / Taxilane strip
189 / 166 feet (57.5 / 50.5 metres)
160 / 156 feet (49 / 47.5 meters)
Runway and Taxiway separation
623 feet (190 meters)
623 feet (190 meters) conservatively
Obstacle free zone
508 feet (155 meters)
394 feet (120 meters)
Taxiway and Taxiway separation
320 feet (97.5 metres)
299 feet (91 meters) conservatively
Taxiway bridge width
197 feet (60 meters)
160 feet (49 meters), plus 36 feet (11 meters) for jet blast protection
Clearance at gate
25 feet (7.5 meters)
25 feet (7.5 meters) conservatively
These requirements can be easily compared to that of Code E, which, for runway configuration, remains at 147 feet (45 meters) in width but with additional shoulders measuring two x 25 feet (7.5 meters).
A grass outer way shoulder area is also required. This allows emergency vehicles or support vehicles to attend to stationary aircraft, and there is no loose gravel, risk of ingestion to an aircraft, or chance of movement during a jet blast.
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Where can large aircraft park at the airport?
The ICAO has several classifications for both airport runways and gates; the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 can park at various stands, as broken down below:
Classification
Initial width
Aircraft accommodated
Code D
188 feet (57.5 meters)
Airbus A300 Airbus A320 Boeing 737 Boeing 767
Code E
213 feet (65 meters)
Airbus A330 Airbus A340 Airbus A350 Boeing 777 Boeing 747 Boeing 787
Code F
262 feet (80 meters)
Airbus A380 Boeing 747
Specialist equipment at the world's busiest airports
If your local airport welcomes the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747, you will be surprised to learn that these aircraft do not necessarily require additional specialist technologies or equipment. They can be boarded using existing widebody ground equipment such as aircraft stairs or bridges, and the superior cabin architecture does not mean that an upper deck bridge is mandatory. This also means that the deck catering vehicles can usually reach the aircraft doors.
Photo: dnata
A 50-tonne tractor can handle these larger aircraft in most usual conditions, although, in adverse conditions, a 70-tonne tractor may be required. These are compatible with most widebody aircraft.
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While this isn't mandatory, some airports have gone the extra mile for their upper-class guests. Frequently, airlines will accommodate most of their premium guests on the upper level, which means that they will board these passengers on a bridge that leads to the upper level.
As expected premium passengers will have lounge access, such as the Emirates business class lounge at its hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Given Emirates' presence in Dubai and its huge lounge located above the general terminal, lounge passengers can board directly from the lounge to the aircraft. This is done by providing a direct lounge to access the boarding system, which offers a unique bridge or staircase that leads directly to the aircraft, bypassing general passengers in the terminal.
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Dubai isn't alone with this unique offering, with Frankfurt offering the T1 Pier A Plus and Honolulu's ANA lounge providing direct access from its Honolulu lounge to its double daily Airbus A380 flights to Tokyo.
Unique airports around the world welcome double-decker aircraft
While this list isn't exhaustive, Simple Flying decided to look at a handful of unique airports around the world welcoming the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747. These include:
Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
Serving New Zealand's South Island, Christchurch is one of just two airports in New Zealand that accommodate the A380 (other than Auckland). The airport welcomes a daily service from Emirates, which provides flights via a Dubai - Sydney - Christchurch - Sydney - Dubai routing. Given the open skies policy between Australia and New Zealand, you can book a ticket solely between Christchurch and Sydney and be fortunate enough to try out the airline's first class product.
Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
Mahan Air, a privately owned airport in Iran, operates one Boeing 747-400 aircraft based at Imam Khomeini International Airport. While there are many sanctions for aircraft operating to, from, and over Iran, the aircraft is commonly scheduled to operate services between Tehran and Kish Island, a popular tourist destination in the region. According to ch-aviation, Mahan Air's Boeing 747-400, registered as EP-MEE, is 34 years of age and first took flight in August 1990.
Photo: Telsek | Shutterstock Nadi International Airport (NAN)
While no longer welcoming such large aircraft, the busiest airport in Fiji was worth mentioning. After all, historically, Air Pacific (now trading as Fiji Airways) once operated the Boeing 747-100, 747-200B, and Boeing 747-400 to and from Nadi.
The airline used these aircraft to provide services to destinations including (but not limited to) Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, alongside shorter routes to Sydney and Auckland. The aircraft have since retired, replacing them with the more economical Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft.
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