Quote: Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. German airline Lufthansa is adopting this strategy for its India plans. While it will seek permission to fly in the world%u2019s largest commercial airliner, Airbus A380, into Delhi, the airline has sharply reduced business seats in the Boeing 747s flying here. In wake of corporate travellers giving up business class for cost-cutting reasons, the number of economy seats has been increased in the biggest plane in its fleet at present, the Boeing 747.
Lufthansa has ordered 15 of the world%u2019s biggest commercial airliner that would start joining its fleet from early next year. %u201CWe need two things %u2014 government clearance under bilateral agreement to fly this plane and an airport that%u2019s ready for it. Delhi is an interesting destinations for this aircraft to be deployed in. Once we have the clearance and Delhi airport terminal can receive this plane, our planning team will decide when to get the same here,%u201D said Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa%u2019s director (south Asia).
The superjumbo is likely to be used for commercial purposes next summer. But for present, Hilgers is tweaking the fleet deployment and configuration as it does not want to withdraw flights or frequency.
Positively LH will be the first airline to fly A380 into India, unless EK threw some surprises.
DEL is ready for A380. The expansion and modernization of the DEL airport is going on at a brisk pace. The 4.43 KM runway is operational since 21-Aug-2008. T3 will be commissioned by June 2010.
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10889 posts, RR: 100 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6337 times:
What other Indian airports, besides DEL, are A380 ready? DEL, BOM, BLR, HYD, and MAA seem like 'no brainers' for the A388. That is, if they are ready. With EK, I expect more cities to see the A380 in India too!
4.43km is amazing...
Quoting WILCO737 (Reply 1): Yeah, but only 2700m can be used for landing if 29 is in use...
A fully laden A388 can land on 2500m near sea level, what is DEL's altitude? What is the length of the next longest landing runway? I suspect there will be little issue accomodating the CAT 6 aircraft.
Colts001 From United States of America, joined Mar 2009, 88 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6324 times:
LH is planning ahead for the future when world economy picks up and in turn flying also picks up. It is interesting to note that they are planning on Delhi instead of Mumbai, it shows that Delhi has quietly taken over the number one airport in India another reason could be Delhi being the capital has lot of diplomatic/government related travel which are recession proof.
Mk777 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 1186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6236 times:
Quoting Lightsaber (Reply 2): what is DEL's altitude? What is the length of the next longest landing runway?
DEL elevation (AMSL) = 777ft/237m
Rwy 28/10 is the next longest, approx 3.81km
Quoting WILCO737 (Reply 1): Yeah, but only 2700m can be used for landing if 29 is in use...
Wow, can't believe rwy 29 has such a long displaced threshold (1.73km).
I think out of all airports, A380 is best suited to the DEL market even though HYD and BLR can handle the A380, however, i don't see a demand to warrant an A380 here. But with EK, it could be a whole different story.
I think BOM and MAA might not be A380 ready by mid-2010. However, i could be wrong
WILCO737 From Greenland, joined exactly 9 years ago today! , 8540 posts, RR: 78 Reply 6, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 6164 times:
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Quoting Lightsaber (Reply 2): A fully laden A388 can land on 2500m near sea level, what is DEL's altitude? What is the length of the next longest landing runway? I suspect there will be little issue accomodating the CAT 6 aircraft.
Quoting Mk777 (Reply 4): Wow, can't believe rwy 29 has such a long displaced threshold (1.73km).
I didn't say the A380 cannot land there. I just wanted to point out that it is rather short although it is 4400m long.
During rain season a wet runway can be a problem. For the MD11 2700m can be too short and then we request runway 28 (the longest) and DEL ATC said: "unable". So we requested a diversion as we were unable to land on 27 or 29. All of a sudden DEL ATC said: "expect runway 28"...
India is a huge market and a lot of people flying there. LH has a lot of destinations in India with good load factor from what I heard. The A380 just makes sense then.
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10889 posts, RR: 100 Reply 8, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5964 times:
Quoting Mk777 (Reply 4): DEL elevation (AMSL) = 777ft/237m
Rwy 28/10 is the next longest, approx 3.81km
Thank you. From this information, I have no doubt DEL is A388 ready. Well... once the terminal is opened.
Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 7): Off the topic....
The next longest runway of India is the runway of HYD which is 4,265 m (13,990 ft)
Obviously A380 ready. Seriously, is the Terminal and taxiways A380 ready?
JetBlue777 From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 1429 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5933 times:
DALCA From Netherlands, joined Aug 2006, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3598 times:
LH is still doing pretty good in India in these lean times. Flights are still quite well loaded.
DEL deserves the A380 but I wonder if LH still still keep the MUC-DEL flight then.
Zanair flight, please hold on finals as we have to clear rhino's off the runway. Next flight: AMS-FRA-SIN-FRA-AMS
Abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4919 posts, RR: 55 Reply 12, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 3279 times:
Quoting DALCA (Reply 11): LH is still doing pretty good in India in these lean times. Flights are still quite well loaded.
DEL deserves the A380 but I wonder if LH still still keep the MUC-DEL flight then.
= What I have been impressed about LH strategy in India is that they have been nimble to tweak supply based on demand quickly. Changing the MUC-BOM to a all J 73W, removing J seats on their DEL flights, etc. are indications of smart airline management and an understanding of its foreign marketplace. As much as I deride LH for poor overall service, they should be admired on their management.
Other European majors should try to learn ... mostly, BA could learn a few things here as India is historically an important market for them and they have been too much of a behemoth to adjust to demand changes. AF is irrelevant in the long-run in India.
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Well... once the terminal is opened. 
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