Kuala Lumpur International Airport to welcome A380's
SEPANG (Malaysia Airports) - The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will open its doors to aviation industry's most anticipated arrival this millennium - the Airbus A380. Not since the introduction of the Jumbo 747 has the commercial aviation world eagerly anticipated the arrival of an aircraft.
The double-decker aircraft with some 555 seats is touted by Airbus as the "most advanced, spacious, and efficient airlines ever conceived", and is expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on 10 November 2005.
This will be the Airbus A380's maiden visit to KLIA on its airport compatibility verifications test. KLIA, which began operations in 1998 has been designed and built to receive such New Large Aircraft.
Further modifications will be done to enhance the A380's operations at KLIA. Such enhancement includes the upgrading of KLIA to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annexe 14 Code F and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Code VI requirements. KLIA is currently certified as ICAO Annexe 14 Code E.
The tests are designed to help airlines operating the A380 to develop procedures for aircraft pushback and towing, fueling, catering, baggage handling, cleaning, passenger handling, medical lifts, and fire and emergency response.
The schedule arrival of the A380 will provide an insight for all those involved on what to expect once Malaysia Airlines takes delivery of the A380 in 2007. Malaysia Airports is also looking into providing training for those who will be handling the aircraft at the airport and officials continue to meet with Airbus and Malaysia Airlines officials regularly, in preparation for the actual arrival.
The A380 aircraft will also be on display at KLIA.
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