The A380 Superjumbo Jet Coming to Houston

Upstairs, downstairs.

Bush Intercontinental will be the first Texas airport, and only the fourth in the U.S., to have flights from the massive jet that began regular service six years ago.

Lufthansa will offer direct flights between Houston and Frankfurt beginning in August, the Houston Airport System announced today.

"As the gateway to Texas's energy capital, Bush Intercontinental welcomes the A380 as a symbol of Houston's significant role as an international hub," said HAS director Mario Diaz. "I believe the new aircraft is a game changer and is an excellent fit for transatlantic flights between Houston and Germany as Lufthansa expands its service."

The A380 is double-decker along its entire length and seats 526 passengers (only eight of them in first class.)

HAS had to upgrade facilities at Bush to handle the huge plane.

"We commend the Houston Airport System management for their decision to invest significantly in order to make the airport A380-ready. Houston makes perfect sense as the fourth-largest U.S. city to experience Lufthansa's A380 flagship aircraft and premium service," said Lufthansa's Jürgen Siebenrock. "Lufthansa's new A380 service also improves capacity between Houston's prevalent oil and energy business and the airline's over 35 other oil and energy destinations worldwide."