WASHINGTON - Only a handful of U.S. airports meet the Federal Aviation Administration's design standards for an aircraft as large as the new Airbus A380 superjumbo jet.
The FAA sets requirements for six categories of aircraft to make sure that airplanes can move efficiently and safely around the airport. Taxiways, for example, must be wide and well lit so a pilot can safely control an airplane along the center line.
Whether an airport terminal has a gate area large enough to fit A380 passengers is a local decision, and whether the jetways are big enough to handle a superjumbo jet is up to the airline, according to the FAA.
The following airports meet the FAA design standards for the A380:
Anchorage International Airport
Denver International Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Miami International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
In addition, three airports can handle A380 cargo planes:
Memphis International Airport
Louisville International-Standiford Field Airport
Ontario International Airport (California)
Dulles International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport are close to being ready for the A380, according to the FAA.
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration
