A380 Concourse Opens

11 Feb 2013

Dubai has now fully integrated the A380 concourse said to be one of the largest in the world. The airport authorities here say the purpose-built concourse for Airbus A380 aircraft is now fully open following weeks of phased operations.

The A380 aircraft is a double-decker that seats 525 people and is wide-bodied and so large that some airports have to be readjusted to accommodate it. The 20-gate A380 concourse had its inaugural flight on January 2. It is part of a wider $7.8 billion expansion plan for Dubai's international airport, which is on the way to becoming the world's busiest airport by 2015.

The new concourse was formally opened on Sunday. It is also a boost the European Airbus consortium received from the Dubai-based Emirates carrier which currently flies 31 A380s and has 59 on order.

Airbus has its rivalry with Boeing Co., whose 787 has been grounded since mid-January, as investigators have found possible problems in its lithium ion batteries.

Apparently, the airliner is going to fly the aircraft to those destinations that can accommodate the landing and takeoff of A380s. For the other destinations, it could use the other aircraft.