In a landmark of sorts, the first commercial flight of the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, landed at the new Terminal 3 at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport on Thursday. The Emirates A380 Super Jumbo EK516 from Dubai to Delhi arrived at Terminal 3 at about 4 pm local time, after an hour's delay due to bad weather.
Here's a sneak peek inside the next-generation jetliner that creates jumbo excitement wherever it goes.
The 517-seater A-380 belonging to Emirates made history when it became the first international airline to dock at Terminal 3.
The new Terminal 3 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on July 3.
The new terminal building, which has made IGI the world's fifth largest airport, can cater up to 34 million passengers annually and has 95 immigration counters. It also promises to redefine air travel in India and boasts of in-line baggage handling system with capacity to handle 12,800 bags per hour.
There are six common check-in islands with 168 check-in counters and 78 passenger boarding bridges.
With an area of 5.4 million square feet the airport has a nine-level passenger terminal building and the apron area is 6.7 million square feet. There is a 100-room transit hotel for domestic and international passengers, 97 automatic travelators and a retail space of over 2,15,000 square feet.
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An Air India Boeing from New York via Washington was the first aircraft to dock at one of the 78 aerobridges of the glass-and-steel Terminal 3 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday evening. The flight was given a salute with jet of water being sprayed from cannons from both its side as it taxied on the bay to dock at T3. Water is sprayed onto an Air India aircraft to welcome it as the first flight to land at the newly built terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Wednesday. The passengers of the AI flight were given a warm welcome on arrival by officials Air India and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
All the 220 passengers and 18 crew members on board flight AI-102 would clear emigration at the new terminal, an Air India official said, adding it would be a "real test for all the agencies at T3."
DIAL employees welcome passengers of an Air India aircraft, the first flight to land at the newly built terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Wednesday. With the first flight landing at the newly-built Terminal-3 of the IGI Airport to a rousing reception, Air India chief Arvind Jadhav said the national carrier would launch new flights by establishing its operations hub here.Passengers of an Air India aircraft, the first flight to land at the newly built terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, look on at the terminal in New Delhi. "T3 has provided Air India with the opportunity to be the first mover. We will have to develop it as a formidable primary hub from which we will be able to connect India to the world," the Air India CMD said.
Passengers of an Air India aircraft, the first flight to land at the newly built terminal 3 of the IGI airport arrive at the terminal in New Delhi. The sixth largest passenger terminal in the world was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 3 at a colourful function attended by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
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Airlines may soon be forced to ban peanuts on their flights due to passengers who may have a severe allergy. The ban is not in the hands of the airline operators but instead federal regulators will make the decision. Proponents for the ban say the 1.8 million Americans, who have a peanut allergy will feel safer and more comfortable without the fear of suffering a serious allergic reaction while in the air.
Peanut growers think otherwise. Peanuts are considered a staple on flights and the move to ban them would dramatically affect their business. The 84 page document was submaitted for review and includes three options. The first would be to ban peanuts from all flights, period. The second, is to ban peanuts on a flight when a passenger requests it. Lastly, design a peanut free zone on all airplanes where those with allergies could sit and not worry about coming into contact with peanut dust. The U.S. Transportation Department is open to suggestions about how this delicate matter can be best handled for all parties.
The ban has been proposed because of the severe reactions that many peanut allergy sufferers can have. Anaphylactic shock or death is possible in some rare cases. People with children usually avoid flying because of the danger of peanut dust floating in the air when several bags are opened. Close quarters and recycled air make it a lethal combination for some allergy sufferers. The ban may be a disaster for peanut growers, but may potentially increase the client base for airlines.
Source: Techjackal.net