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"The FAA allows us to negotiate if there is only one bidder," he said. "We'll go to work to see if we can get the cost down."
Overall, the authority expects to spend $15 million-$20 million by 2008 to upgrade infrastructure for the giant freighter that FedEx Corp. is buying from Airbus.
J.F. Kennedy Airport in New York plans to spend $170 million to $180 million -- more than any other U.S. airport -- on upgrades, said Dick Marchi, senior policy adviser at Airports Council International-North America.
"It's seen as mark of distinction to have the A380," Marchi said.
The freighter version FedEx is purchasing has a payload of 150 tons, nearly twice the capacity of the MD-11, now the largest plane in its FedEx fleet.
The A380's wingspan is 262 feet, 49 feet wider than the 747. With a flight distance of 7,000 nautical miles, it will give FedEx nonstop service between Memphis and Osaka, Japan, for instance, or Memphis and Singapore.
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