The Indian government has lifted its ban on superjumbos.

Following years of pressure by airline companies, transport officials have decided that the A-380s will be able to operate at four airports in the country.

The aircraft will be flying into Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, which are the only airports with the capacity to handle them. Already, nine of the ten companies that operate the planes have scheduled flights into India.

According to officials, the A-380s would still be subject to India's air service agreements (ASAs) which limit the amount of seats allowed to fly in and out of the country. It will now embark on negotiations with other countries to facilitate the move. Before the planes are able to operate, the ASAs will have to be fully amended and the four airports must be certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Amber Dubey, an India-based partner at KMPG, hailed the decision as a great move and added: "The A-380s will help bring down fares and improve the cost competitiveness of the Indian tourism sector."

The double-decker aircraft can hold up to 850 passengers in an all-economy configuration. Manufacturer Airbus claim that they offer twice as much more floor surface than other high-capacity planes.