India lifts ban on Airbus A380 superjumbo jets

[fleetlordatvar]

NEW DELHI (AP) - India has lifted its ban on Airbus superjumbo planes, allowing the world's largest passenger jet into New Delhi, Mumbai and two other cities equipped to handle the aircraft.
Despite ever-growing passenger numbers, India restricted Airbus A380 flights in 2008 in an effort to help struggling domestic carriers cope with global competition.
Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said that lifting the restrictions would help bring more revenue to airports and boost India's international reputation as a flight destination.
PHOTOS: Lufthansa's A380 takes off on maiden flight (May 2010)
PHOTOS: Inside Emirates Airbus A380 (August 2008)
TODAY IN THE SKY: FAA downgrades India's air service, halting new routes
The ministry said Monday that Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa have expressed interest in flying A380s into India. Only airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore can accommodate the double-decker planes, which can seat up to 850 passengers.
Airbus welcomed the move, which had been pushed for by international carriers aiming for a bigger foothold in a country with more than 1.2 billion people.
"This is good news for Indian airports and the Indian flying public," said Kiran Rao, executive vice president of strategy and marketing for Airbus, in a statement.
PHOTOS: Miami joins 'elite' airports with arrival of Lufthansa A380 (June 2011)
PHOTOS: Air France's superjumbo A380 lands at Washington Dulles (August 2011)
PHOTOS: Qantas A380 debuts at LAX (October 2010)
PHOTOS: Inside China Southern's A380 (October 2011)
Air travel has been growing at annual rates of 10%-20%in India, driven by business travelers and middle-class Indians looking to spend more on vacations.
Last month, the city of Mumbai unveiled a long-delayed $2 billion terminal, hoping to dazzle travelers with art installations and showcasing India's importance as a global destination. The new terminal boosts the airport's annual capacity from 30 million to 40 million passengers.
Indian carriers have struggled, however, under fierce competition and high costs for fuel and spare parts, leading to more than $8 billion in estimated losses over the last five years, with flag carrier Air India suffering the biggest hits.

[fleetlordatvar]

Good to know bureaucracy hasn't lost it's grip on society in the many millennium that "India" has existed; India Removes A380 Restrictions but Obstacles Persist

AIN Air Transport Perspective » February 3, 2014
by Neelam Mathews




Emirates Airline, the largest A380 operator in the world, cannot fly its superjumbos to India in the absence of a new bilateral air services agreement. (Photo: Airbus)

January 27, 2014, 12:00 PM



India has lifted restrictions on the Airbus A380 airliner to land at four Code F compliant airports, the country’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced Monday. But while the industry has applauded the move, the government has not made it an effortless exercise, as major carriers wanting to fly their A380s to India run short on service entitlements.
“Bilateral air service agreements (ASAs) that prohibit operation of A380s to India will need to be amended before permission is granted,” the MoCA said in a statement.
“Rationalization of traffic rights from services per week to seats per week shall be done through mutual negotiations through memoranda of understanding.” Airports will require Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) certification and “make adequate preparation in terms of various services required,” the statement added.
“In India everything takes time; ASAs are not easy to arrange overnight,” a senior airline official told AIN. “This looks like an attempt by the government to show it is moving things. In reality, national carrier Air India will get more breathing space.”
While India delayed a decision on permitting the A380 to land at the four airports, seat entitlements evaporated as carriers continued to add capacity. For example, Emirates, the biggest A380 customer, has shown interest for the past three years, but cannot start operations until the UAE and India hold new bilateral talks. India now stands as Emirates’ second largest market after Dubai. The carrier operates 185 flights and 55,000 seats a week to 10 destinations on the subcontinent.
Singapore Airlines, another major A380 operator that has expressed interest in flying its superjumbos to India, finds itself in a situation similar to that of Emirates, SIA v-p of public affairs Nicholas Ionides told AIN. “India is indeed a market we would consider operating A380s to in future,” he said. “At present we have no confirmed plans.”
Bilateral agreements with Singapore have reached capacity on all regulated routes, meaning SIA would have to cut frequencies to operate the A380 into India. “I’m not sure if SIA will want to do that,” said Brendan Sobie, and analysts with Sydney-based Center for Asia Pacific Aviation. “Obviously Singapore would like the bilateral extended allowing SIA to up-gauge without adding frequencies. But I don’t know if India would consider another capacity increase beyond the increment agreed to last year.”
Lufthansa, which operates the new Boeing 747-8 to India, must also negotiate a new bilateral agreement before adding A380 capacity to India. It, however, evidently sees a clear path to doing so as it prepares to launch Indian services with A380s, likely by the winter of 2014-2015.
Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore airports comply with ICAO Code F, which lists facilities required for the A380 for runways, taxiways linking runways and aircraft parking bays. Delhi’s Indira Ghandi International Airport, the country’s busiest, in mid-2010 hosted a special inaugural flight of Emirates’ A380 to commemorate the opening of a new terminal. “Delhi is immediately capable and duly equipped to handle up to 12 A380 aircraft simultaneously and in full compliance with ICAO and DGCA mandates,” confirmed an airport spokesman.