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By the year 2012, it is said Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can be facing demand for one
dozen Airbus A380 landings and takeoffs every day. Though development of adequate
airport infrastructure for these futuristic airplanes will be extremely expensive, LAX is showing it is determined to
maintain its attractiveness for A380 commercial aviation operators.
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By Robert L. Candiotti October 10, 2009
These enormous double-decker airplanes have only been flying commercially since 2007. Even today, as 2010 approaches, just four
international airlines - Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas and Air France - are flying these Airbus long-haul jetliners
with the 20 A380 planes that have been built and delivered so far.
| Singapore Airlines has several A380s in its fleet. |
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| SIA's home airport, Changi in Singapore, has long functioned at the elevated Code F status. |
Already, these futuristic four-engine jetliners are revolutionizing comercial aviation's long-haul air markets.
| Qantas voiced concerns about facilities at LAX. |
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| $1.5 billion has been approved by LAX authorities for necessary A380 upgrades. |
Qantas began flying between Melbourne/Sydney and Los Angeles on October
20, 2008. However, even before the service began, Qantas was expressing deep concerns to Los Angeles Airport authorities that
LAX was not ready for the A380. A380 aircraft have a wingspan that is 50 feet wider than any other
airplane. It is heavy. It needs a longer runway than the 747-400. The A380 can carry more than 500 passengers.
Though the 747 requires airports the meet Code E airport regulations, the A380 super-jumbo can only fly to a Code F compliant
airport. LAX executives understand this and are acceding to the Code F airport demands, as well as
development of high-level A380 customer amenities. The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has approved $1.5 billion
for the upgrade of LAX to smoothly handle multiple daily arrivals of the A380. LAX is not alone. In
2006, Airport Technology reported that "60 airports worldwide are preparing for A380 commercial operations."
Literally, many billions of dollars are being spent around the world to establish airport infrastructures that can accommodate
A380 air traffic. A380 air traffic is going to become an extremely important aspect of air travel.
With dramatically expanded passenger capacity, a giant A380 jet can fly halfway across the world non-stop to drop off and
pick up more than 500 people on just one trip.
| An Emirates A380 flies by Burj-al-Arab at Dubai. |
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| Emirates has ordered 58 A380s for an extensive long-haul network. Photo by FlyKonstantin. |
Within five years, these planes will be flying all over the globe.
Emirates - the international airline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates - has ordered 58 Airbus A380 airplanes. Emirates obviously
has a vision of being one of the preeminent long-haul air carriers in the world. Today, only five of
these new planes have been delivered to Emirates. Just with five, though, Emirates is flying these impressive planes between
Dubai and London Heathrow, Sydney, Auckland, Bangkok, Toronto, Paris and Seoul. Due to infrastructure
limitations, the A380 will never be able to fly to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS). For various reasons, it
is reported that McCarran is unable to upgrade to the Code F regulations that must be met to handle A380 air traffic.
Yet, part of the essential definition of Las Vegas is it has accomplished and enjoyed very good connectivity.
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At a Brookings
Institution/University of Nevada, Las Vegas, conference in Las Vegas on October 28, 2008, Robert E. Lang of Brookings stated,
"Las Vegas is a world city due to its connectivity to other cities."
Already, 200 A380 airplanes have been ordered from Airbus by 16 various airlines. However, not one of these planes
will be able to service Las Vegas if the proposed Ivanpah Valley Airport does not pass the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) process or is not approved for construction between Jean and Primm, Nevada, 30 miles south of Las Vegas. This is Las Vegas' only hope for the A380 and for the unique city's continued efficient
connectivity with 21st Century trans-continental air travelers.
Even if Ivanpah Valley Airport is ultimately approved, it will not be open until 2018, at the earliest. This is far away.
But it is certainly better than never coming together at all.
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| A380s flying to Las Vegas must land at Ivanpah. |
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| Las Vegas' only hope for A380 traffic will be approval and construction of Ivanpah Valley Airport. |
As stated by Airport
Technology, something like 60 airports around the world are getting ready for A380 commercial operations. If Las Vegas
is not in the loop, its prestige and mystique will diminish significantly. Devastating amounts of tourist dollars will be
lost. It will be difficult for Las Vegas to remain defined as a world-class city. Just before Qantas' inaugural flight was about to arrive at LAX last year, Gina Marie Lindsey,
executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, stated, "Certainly, to have one of the early scheduled A380 flights
is a recognition of the preeminent status of Los Angeles as a gateway to the United States." If Southern Nevada's proposed Ivanpah Valley Airport is not built to also be
a destination for the Airbus A380, Las Vegas' reputation as a well-connected urban center of the world will be difficult,
and possibly impossible, for the city to continue to maintain.
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