GENEVA, Jan 18 (AFP) - Forget fare-paying long-haul passengers, Switzerland's Geneva airport is predicting the giant new Airbus A380 airliner unveiled on Tuesday could be a hit as a private jet for the elite, and is improving its runway.
The airport, which principally deals with European traffic as well as a few longer haul flights to the Middle East, US and Asia, is not expecting the A380 to be used much on scheduled flights in and out of Geneva, a spokesman said.
But it is preparing for the A380's huge wingspan and plump take-off weight because it also hosts a sizeable number of aircraft carrying heads of states to international meetings or wealthy leaders on private trips to lakeside or Alpine retreats.
"It's quite plausible," said Philippe Roy, a spokesman for Geneva airport.
"We receive many heads of state in Geneva, some of them on Boeing 747s. When one sees the number of orders for A380s from the Gulf, one can imagine that they'll be used to come to Geneva," he added.
The airport is pressing ahead with the final stage of runway improvements this spring that include the reinforcement of a 100 metre stretch over a road tunnel to cope with the controlled arrival of 560 tonnes from the sky.
"We have prepared the works to take account of the A380. It will be able to land without trouble," Roy said.
In summer 2002, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia arrived in Geneva on board his private Boeing 747 for a three month visit to his mansion near the Swiss city.
He was accompanied by 11 more long-haul aircraft carrying family, staff and medical facilities.
01/18/2005 17:07 GMT - AFP