They just should ask Branson to pay for the improvements he wants. In any case I don't understand why airport authorities are forced to accommodate any plane than wants to come in. It might actually be a good idea if no US airport could take the A380, since no US airline has any on order. Herman > >Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 12:48:31 -0800 >From: JEC - Washington Residance <john.e.conner@xxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: REUTERS: Sir Richard Branson has asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger To Save LA Superjumbo Flights > >http://news.airwise.com/stories/2003/11/1069869387.html >Saturday November 29, 2003 >Branson Asks Arnie To Save LA Superjumbo Flights >November 26, 2003=20 >British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has asked California Governor = >Arnold Schwarzenegger to help rescue plans to fly the world's biggest = >passenger plane into Los Angeles. > >Branson's Virgin Atlantic will be among the first airlines to fly the = >Airbus A380 but is worried Los Angeles Airport will not make changes = >needed to accommodate the mammoth double-deckers due in 2006. > >"Unfortunately it currently seems that the airport will not have the = >facilities to handle an aircraft of this size," Branson said in a letter = >sent to Schwarzenegger this week. > >A Virgin spokeswoman said on Wednesday it was also in discussion with = >Airbus, which is working with several airports on changes needed for the = >A380. > >One of eight airlines that have ordered the planes, Virgin said in a = >statement only two of nine airports in its plans were ready. > >Branson, a fervent aviation buff who flies hot-air balloons and begged = >rival British Airways to allow Virgin to save the supersonic Concorde = >from retirement, asked Schwarzenegger to help ensure Los Angeles remains = >open to the A380. > >"For a great and world-leading airport not to be able to support this = >revolutionary new aircraft would be a blow to its and California's = >reputation globally," he said. > >He added that Los Angeles might also figure in Virgin's plans to set up = >a low-fares carrier in the United States next year. > >(Reuters) >http://news.airwise.com/stories/2003/11/1069869387.html > > >