World's biggest plane takes shape
Last updated at 11:51 07 April 2004
It is the biggest commercial plane ever built, and it is coming to a sky above you soon.
Almost four Concordes could fit in the wingspan of the new doubledecker Airbus A380 superjet.
As the first 45-metre wing rolled off the production line to start its four-week journey to the Airbus plant in Toulouse, work began yesterday on upgrading Heathrow's Terminal 3 to accommodate the plane.
Already the world's busiest international airport, Heathrow is set to become the main centre for the A380 - which is forecast to provide 12 per cent of the airport's business.
Airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines plan to fly the planes from Heathrow, and Airbus says 125 jets have been ordered.
Four double-decker aircraft stands will be built at Heathrow's Pier 6, plus a bigger baggage reclaim hall for the 555 passengers on each plane.
Taxiways are being re-positioned and widened for the A380's wingspan, and recent runway resurfacing included widening for the jet. Mick Temple, BAA Heathrow's managing director, said: 'Heathrow's preparations for the A380 are right on schedule. Our taxiway widening has progressed well over the last year, and we are now able to start getting our terminals ready.'
The work, expected to cost £300 million, is part of a £450million investment in Terminal 3, which is due to be finished in 2006 when the first A380s fly into Heathrow.
Similar projects are planned at other airports. New York's JFK airport yesterday revealed an £80million expansion had been approved.
The £6.6billion plane is due to make its first test flight next year.
Facts and stats
The 73m-long Airbus A380 will have a wingspan of 80m and a tail fin that reaches 24m above the ground
It will carry 555 passengers on its twin decks, in three separate classes
The aircraft will weigh more than 560 tonnes, and will carry 300,000 litres of fuel
A triple-decker cargo version of the plane is also under development
Special barges needed to be built to transport the A380's massive wings
The plane will have 49 per cent more floor space than a Boeing 747
Most watched News videos
- New video shows Epstein laughing and chasing young women
- Epstein describes himself as a 'tier one' sexual predator
- Buddhist monks in Thailand caught with a stash of porn
- Jenna Bush Hager in tears over disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
- Sarah Ferguson 'took Princesses' to see Epstein after prison
- Skier dressed as Chewbacca brutally beaten in mass brawl
- Inside London's terrifying crimewave as gangs target high end stores
- Forth Bridge fireball fall into village streets
- Teen, 13, swam for four hours to save his stranded family
- China unveils 'Star Wars' warship that can deploy unmanned jets
- Amazon driver's furious rant about deliveries captured on ring camera
- Lord Peter Mandelson resigns from the Labour Party
