10 April 2003
Concorde is to cease flying in the autumn, British Airways and Air France have confirmed.
BA is likely to ground the world’s finest aircraft when the summer timetable ends on the last weekend of October, while Air France has said it will make no more Concorde flights from November 1, although it will suspend services from the end of May unless demand picks up.
Concorde had been exected to stay in service until 2007, but BA said passenger revenue had been falling steadily against a backdrop of rising maintenance costs.
Passenger numbers have never recovered since the crash near Paris in 2000.
To mark today’s announcement, British Airways is offering a range of special Concorde fares. The offers, on sale from today in the UK until April 17 for travel until the end of August, are:
£1,999 for one way Concorde, one way World Traveller
£2,199 for one way Concorde, one way World Traveller Plus
£2,999 for one way Concorde, one way Club World
£3,499 for one way Concorde, one way First
£3,999 Concorde return
You can book by calling 0845 77 333 77 or visiting your local travel agent. Fares are subject to a Saturday night stay restriction and cannot be changed or refunded.
