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AUSTRALIA's Sydney Airport has invested more than A$100 million (US$90.23 million) to accommodate the Airbus's newest superjumbo, the A380, which is made its flight commercial flight with Singapore Airlines on Thursday.
Singapore Airlines is the world's first airline to fly the new A380 and Sydney Airport is the first airport in the world to accept a commercial flight from the new aircraft.
"Long haul routes linking Sydney to the rest of the world through the global aviation network are well suited to the high capacity A380. Many of the airlines that fly out of Sydney are committed A380 customers, which means that Sydney will be seeing many more A380 flights in the years ahead," said Sydney Airport CEO Russell Balding.
This, he said, has been achieved through new-generation engine technology combined with advanced wing and landing gear design.
Sydney Airport authorities said that they were investing A$120 million in upgrades to facilities for the A380, including widening runways and taxiways, strengthening of the General Holmes Drive Tunnel under the main runway to cope with the A380's extra weight and relocating a taxiway to accommodate its wider wingspan.
New aerobridges had to be built to service the A380, which will have three access doors to the aircraft, with one to the upper deck and two to the lower. The A380 upgrade also included the relocation of airfield navigational and visual aid equipment including taxiway lighting and signage.
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