US lawmaker wants limits on A380 airport upgrades Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:49pm ET =20 Email This Article | Print This Article | Reprints=20 [-] Text [+] WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - A senior Republican lawmaker i= nfluential on transportation matters said on Friday he wants Congress to pr= ohibit U.S. airports from spending federal funds on upgrades to accommodate= the European-made superjumbo Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) A38= 0.=20 "Until a U.S. airline chooses to acquire and operate the passenger version = of the A380, foreign airlines that operate A380 passenger service to and fr= om the United States should pay for any needed infrastructure improvements = at the airports they serve," U.S. Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican, sai= d in a statement.=20 Mica is chairman of the House of Representatives transportation subcommitte= e on aviation.=20 About 50 percent of the cost for A380-related upgrades would be financed th= rough federal airport grants. So far, Los Angeles (LAX), New York's John F.= Kennedy, Miami and San Francisco are preparing for A380 passenger service.= Several other airports are evaluating A380 passenger and cargo development= to see if carriers they serve will fly it.=20 Airbus, a consortium based in France, has struggled with its schedule to de= liver the $300 million double-decker aircraft to its foreign customers. The= first plane is scheduled for later this year with six- to seven-month deli= very delays expected after that. A380 customers include Australia's Qantas = Airways, Dubai-based Emirates (EMAIR.UL: Quote, Profile, Research), China S= outhern (1055.HK: Quote, Profile, Research), and Singapore Airlines (SIAL.S= I: Quote, Profile, Research).=20 The A380 is slated to be the biggest passenger jet ever flown with room to = seat between 550 and 850 passengers, depending on its configuration.=20 Because of the A380's size -- a 262-foot wingspan and a maximum takeoff wei= ght of 1.2 million pounds -- airports, in some cases, may have to widen run= ways and taxiways and restructure gate areas to handle more people.=20 Mica released findings of a Government Accountability Office report that es= timated the cost to upgrade infrastructure at U.S. airports to accommodate = the A380 could reach $927 million, if major work is required.=20 One airport industry executive called the GAO figure high and included cost= s that may never be required. Continued...=20 < Previous 1 | 2 Next >=20 =C2=A9 Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. COMMENTARY: WEIGHING RISK Alternatives to options Risk-savvy investors should welcome Ultra and Short exchange traded funds (= ETFs), but the reckless should stay away, Marc Gerstein writes. Full Artic= le=20 Ethanol yet to catch on as a hedge tool Most Viewed Business Articles SEC effort to oversee hedge funds cracked Fed's rate move in focus for stocks Arcelor accepts upped Mittal takeover bid Reuters Business Video Japan-U.S. row over beef imports still simmersGerman hotels still have vaca= ncies during World Cup =20 Roger & Amanda La France