Well, I've seen both C-5s and Antonov An-124s there, so I don't see why not. The A380 is only a few feet longer than a 747-400, and the wingspan is about 60 ft wider. The MTOW is 1,285,000 lbs. vs. 875,000 lbs. The only thing that is slightly problematic is the wingspan while taxiing, which can be dealt with by ground control. The runway length (28R/10L) is 11,870 ft. which should not pose a problem. Singapore Airlines has committed to flying the A380 into SFO when they're delivered. It would not surprise me if Qantas did likewise. -- Michael C. Berch mcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx On Monday, December 1, 2003, at 08:14 PM, Allan9 wrote: > Great Michael > But can the aircraft land and taxi on the airport? > Al > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael C. Berch" <mcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 4:27 PM > Subject: Accommodating the A380 > > >> I do know that the planners at SFO worked with both Airbus and Boeing >> to try to make sure that the new International Terminal at SFO would >> be >> able to accommodate a future superjumbo. In fact, there are two >> specially-designated gates that will accommodate the A380 - one at the >> end of the A Concourse, and one at the end of the G Concourse. They >> have an extra-large gate holding/seating area, multiple airbridges, >> etc. I took the grand-opening tour of the International Terminal in >> December 2000 and they made sure to point this out. >> >> -- >> Michael C. Berch >> mcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> >> On Monday, December 1, 2003, at 12:05 PM, B787300@xxxxxxx wrote: >>> I presume you are correct about having the Asian airlines in mind and >>> it >>> certainly sounds logical. However, somebody at Airbus is intelligent >>> enough to >>> know that the Asian carriers would want to serve LAX with the beast. >>> Airbus >>> should have approached the airport to see if there would be any >>> problems with the >>> size of the aircraft, instead of designing it first, starting >>> production and >>> then trying to cram it down the throats of LAX and other airports >>> that >>> simply >>> don't have the spacing available between runways and runways, runways >>> and >>> taxiways, taxiways and taxiways, etc. >>> >>> Gate hold room sizes are yet another additional problem as you state. >>> The >>> beast will probably take up two or three gate apron areas due to the >>> wingspan. >>> No wonder this thing is unloved. >>> >>> I fail to see how shops will benefit from passengers getting off the >>> A380. >>> After a long-ass flight they'll want to clear Immigrations/Customs >>> and >>> get the >>> hell out of the airport to a hotel to recuperate from the flight. >>> The >>> last >>> thing on their minds will be shopping inside the terminal. >>> >>> Jose Prize >>> Fan of reality >> >