Brazil bans the Airbus A380 from Sao Paulo airport

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's air traffic regulator says the world's largest passenger jet will not be able to use the country's biggest airport because its main runway is not wide enough for the Airbus A380.

The Civil Aviation Agency said in a brief statement Friday that "not all minimum and essential safety requirements at Sao Paulo's International Airport have been met, especially the widening of the landing and takeoff runway."

The statement said airlines using the A380 will be allowed to land and take off from the airport once the runway is widened.

The runway was inspected after Air France requested permission for its A380s to use the airport.

Neither Air France nor the company that operates the airport were immediately available for comment.