Kolkata airport gets ready for Airbus A380

The Kolkata airport will expand its runway and build a taxiway for the world's largest commercial aircraft.

The Kolkata airport will expand its runway and build a taxiway for the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft. The work is to be completed by end of 2009, an official said on Saturday.

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"We plan to extend the 2,400-metre runway at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by 840 metres. A taxiway with a minimum width of 23 metres will be built to make room for the wide-bodied aircraft. The taxi shoulders will be around 30 metres wide to avoid damaging the wings of the A380," airport director VK Monga told IANS.

The Airports Authority of India and the West Bengal government will spend Rs 20 million and Rs 30 million respectively for the project, he added.

Only Kingfisher Airlines has ordered the A380 aircraft so far.