The $1.5 billion expansion of Jeddah's King Abdul Aziz International Airport is designed to accommodate the world's largest aircraft, including A380s, said Abdullah Ruhaimy, head of the Presidency of Civil Aviation (PCA). Ruhaimy made the announcement at a Shoura Council meeting in Riyadh yesterday. "The project is designed to accommodate the new generation of large aircraft such as Airbus 380," he said. Carrying 555 passengers, about a third more than its closest competitor, the new "super jumbo" A380 enters airline service next year, bringing with it a need for significant upgrading of airport facilities. Airport development and expansion projects in the Middle East have taken this into consideration. Emirates Airlines alone has 45 A380s on order for delivery between 2006 and 2008. Leading airport engineers will utilize the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition, which opens in Dubai later today to demonstrate to senior airport and civil aviation officials a comprehensive range of solutions for the A380, the world's first full-length twin-decked aircraft, according to a press statement published today.
