Airport ready for A380 after £10m upgrade

MANCHESTER Airport has been officially certified as ‘A380 ready’ ahead of the arrival of the maiden flight from Dubai next month.

After a £10m upgrade Manchester will become one of just 17 airports in the world which will be served regularly by the massive Airbus aircraft, which can carry 517 passengers.

An inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Aerodrome Standards Division has now ratified the facilities at Manchester.

The airport has upgraded he airfield and its infrastructure to meet the standards for the Emirates super-jumbo. 

Taxi-ways have had to be widened, realigned and reinforced at junctions and turns as well as perimeter fences and more than 50 airfield signs moved further away so the super jumbo can pass safely

In the terminal, a new aircraft stand has been built with an advance docking system, which guides the pilot onto the stand and into the correct position for the unique double air bridge to connect.

Manchester Airport managing director Andrew Cornish said: “A lot of hard work and planning has gone into the arrival from many people across the business and we’re pleased that as an aerodrome we can accept the newest type of aircraft flying today and that Emirates has recognised Manchester as a world class airport.”

As well as building a new stand the airport has also updated the pier with a new pre-boarding lounge to accommodate passengers.

It has also added two new fire-fighting vehicles. One of the vehicles hosts a turntable system with a 30-metre extending ladder which can be extended over inflated emergency exit chutes, enabling the Fire Service to gain access to any level of an aircraft, including those where conventional ladders might not reach.

With the airport now being classed as ‘A380 ready’ this makes Manchester a ‘Category 10’ airport, meaning that the airport can not only accept the A380 but other ‘Code F’ aircraft such as some of the larger freighter aircraft that are operating around the world.