Dubai: The New Delhi Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is “interested” in Emirates flying the world’s largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, to the airport, an airport executive said on Thursday.
The Indian government lifted a ban on airlines flying the A380 to the country last year, paving the way for Emirates to launch superjumbo flights to Mumbai. Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines, meanwhile, operate the A380 to Delhi.
Pradeep Panicker, chief commercial officer (Aero) at Delhi International Airport Private Limited, told reporters in Dubai at the Future of Borders summit on Thursday that the airport is “interested” in Emirates A380 services but that any decision is likely to depend on the government.
The current bilateral agreement, which permits Emirates to fly to India, are based on the number of passenger seats. Emirates has just about reached its capacity of 54,200 weekly seats between Dubai and India, and would need approval for additional seats or drop back on seats to add the A380 to the Dubai-Delhi route.
Emirates did not immediately respond to queries on its A380 plans for Delhi but last year said it looks “forward to serving Indian travellers with our flagship aircraft”.
Emirates is the largest A380 operator with around 60 aircraft in its fleet from an order of 140. In November this year, Emirates will receive its first two-class, business and economy A380 that will be able to seat 615 passengers, Adel Al Redha, executive vice-president and chief operations officer at the airline, said on Wednesday. The airline has yet to indicate exactly what routes it will fly its two-class A380s on. Currently, the largest A380 aircraft in the fleet can hold around 515 passengers.
Delhi’s international airport, which has a capacity to handle 12 A380s, is not targeting to increase superjumbo services this year, Panicker said though admitted the aircraft “helps to enhance the image of the airport.”
Panicker also said that IGI has not discussed A380 services with Qatar Airways or Etihad Airways. Both airlines started operating A380s last year, of which they have each ordered 10.
