Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is moving forward with plans to build a gate that can accommodate the A380 super-jumbo jet on Concourse F at its international terminal.
The airport is striking an agreement with joint venture New South-Synergy for a contract worth up to $13.78 million to modify gate F3 so it can accommodate the A380. The work will include a second loading bridge, a new fuel pit, new escalator, elevator and stairs and an extension of a corridor to tie into it. The construction could take nearly a year to complete.
The airport already spent $30 million for runway and taxiway widening and modifications on Concourse E to accept the giant jet before Korean Air launched the first A380 flights to Atlanta in 2013.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
But one problem that arose was the long walk for arriving international travelers from E1 -- the A380 gate on Concourse E.
After the international terminal opened in 2012, some passengers complained about the long walk from the farthest gates on Concourse E to the Customs processing area at the international terminal. The walk is up to six-tenths of a mile long.
After an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story on complaints about the walk, the airport began planning for an additional moving walkway on part of the path that doesn't have one.
Now, the airport said in documentation submitted to the Atlanta city council, it "desires to have an A380 capable gate on Concourse F to minimize travel time for A380 passengers."
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