Concordes Museum Bound Says British Airways

BHopper88 · 03-02-2003, 11:13 AM

Concordes museum-bound, says BA
Tom McGhie, Mail on Sunday
2 March 2003

BRITISH Airways is planning to give away its five remaining Concordes to museums around the world.

The iconic aircraft, which cost taxpayers £1.4 billion in the Sixties and Seventies (more than £6 billion in today's money), will never be sold, BA has vowed.

The refusal to sell the aircraft that were recently upgraded and refitted for £30 million, is bound to infuriate potential buyers, including Virgin Atlantic, that believe they can make a profit from the supersonic planes.

A BA spokesman said: 'We will never sell this aircraft. The plane is synonymous with British Airways. It is almost a symbol of the airline. In any case, no one but BA and Air France are capable of maintaining this fleet. It would be like asking the corner garage to service a Formula 1 car.'

But Will Whitehorn, righthand man to Sir Richard Branson at Virgin, said: 'I am astonished that BA would not sell the aircraft. I am sure shareholders would be interested in such a decision.

'If they do come on the market, we would be interested in buying them. We have done work on the costings and have had a team looking at the idea. We wanted to buy two from Air France, but they pulled out at the last minute.'

Though Concorde is certified to fly until 2009, falling ticket sales and rising costs seem certain to bring forward its demise. BA bosses last week admitted that the future of Concorde was 'under review' because the downturn in the economy meant there were not enough passengers willing to pay the £8,000 for a return ticket from Heathrow to New York.

The supersonic fleet was grounded for more than a year after the Air France Concorde crash in Paris in July 2000, in which 114 people died. The plane returned to service in November 2001 after an upgrade.

The BA spokesman said: 'The retirement date of the aircraft is under review. In the current commercial environment where business and premium brands are under increased pressure, it's only prudent for us to think carefully about when we should retire Concorde

Tony Sepanski · 03-02-2003, 09:38 PM

I know R.Branson has been very good for British commercial aviation, but sometimes his bombastic tirades get a little ridiculous. Virgin's ability to operate the Concorde would be incredibly expensive. Why would they want to do this? It can't be because they would make a profit...I just thinking out loud here...

Starliner · 03-02-2003, 11:35 PM

Considering a couple of hissing alley cats get along better than British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, I don't see this happening; I think BA would rather push them into the Channel than see VS get them. But it would make an interesting 1:400 concept model. Gemini already has a very nice Concorde mould.

9V-SVC · 03-02-2003, 11:59 PM

That is very sad to see concorde gone for good , I do hope one of them will head to Singapore aviation museum .

johnrico · 03-03-2003, 06:09 AM

Does Singapore has an aviation museum?? I know there is a military one.. but civilian???

justin · 03-03-2003, 06:31 AM

VS, oh dear..... I know they have a good reputation for service but I detest Richard Branson and refuse to buy from any of his associated companies. The guy has came a long way for a guy that started his career with a customs and excise fraud... He's full of empty promisses and verbal crap, if you wanna see the Virgin company in action take a ride on one of their trains here in the UK, they're one of the worst train companies in Britain and a national disgrace! Rant mode off!

If The Concorde is to be taken out of service then I think it should go to museums, realistically if BA are struggling then nobody else will make it work, and it's an old aircraft now. I think Duxford is guaranteed one, the Science museum may be given one, I suspect the Smithsonian will get one, then the others-who knows? I guess a lot of museums will be arguing their case!

Justin

Impman · 03-03-2003, 12:55 PM

A typical BA attitude, considering the British public paid for those planes, who do they think they are, telling us what will & wont happen to them. They should be made to give them back to the state & let someone else decide their fate.

S.B.

justin · 03-03-2003, 01:25 PM

Not really, they were sold off with British Airways so are BA property to do with as they please.

Justin

R. Minor · 03-03-2003, 01:40 PM

Hello... Boeing??? Can you say Sonic Cruiser?

justin · 03-03-2003, 02:24 PM

Maybe the Sonic Cruiser is just on ice and they'll dust the plans off when the market picks up? In some ways I thought it was a better project than the 7E7 as it would have a captive market for a premium product whereas the 7E7 is just an incremental advance that Airbus will probably counter with a NG version of the A330 at some point. Also, the market is down now, but considering the lead time of the sonic cruiser this might not hhave been so critical. I think Boeing lost a business window, as Airbus were fully committed with bringing the A340-500/600 into service and launching the A380 Boeing had a window of a couple of years where Airbus were unable to answer Boeing's challenge and Boeing could have opened up a critical lead in developing a next generation airliner that could have given it major problems, so I'm a little sad Boeing went for the safe option, but then again Boeing know more than me and it's not my money,

Justin

03-02-2003, 11:13 AM	#1
BHopper88 Master Collector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Home: Beverly Hills, Michigan (burb of Detroit), School: Grand Forks, North Dakota Age: 30 Posts: 547	Concordes Museum Bound Says British Airways Concordes museum-bound, says BA Tom McGhie, Mail on Sunday 2 March 2003 BRITISH Airways is planning to give away its five remaining Concordes to museums around the world. The iconic aircraft, which cost taxpayers £1.4 billion in the Sixties and Seventies (more than £6 billion in today's money), will never be sold, BA has vowed. The refusal to sell the aircraft that were recently upgraded and refitted for £30 million, is bound to infuriate potential buyers, including Virgin Atlantic, that believe they can make a profit from the supersonic planes. A BA spokesman said: 'We will never sell this aircraft. The plane is synonymous with British Airways. It is almost a symbol of the airline. In any case, no one but BA and Air France are capable of maintaining this fleet. It would be like asking the corner garage to service a Formula 1 car.' But Will Whitehorn, righthand man to Sir Richard Branson at Virgin, said: 'I am astonished that BA would not sell the aircraft. I am sure shareholders would be interested in such a decision. 'If they do come on the market, we would be interested in buying them. We have done work on the costings and have had a team looking at the idea. We wanted to buy two from Air France, but they pulled out at the last minute.' Though Concorde is certified to fly until 2009, falling ticket sales and rising costs seem certain to bring forward its demise. BA bosses last week admitted that the future of Concorde was 'under review' because the downturn in the economy meant there were not enough passengers willing to pay the £8,000 for a return ticket from Heathrow to New York. The supersonic fleet was grounded for more than a year after the Air France Concorde crash in Paris in July 2000, in which 114 people died. The plane returned to service in November 2001 after an upgrade. The BA spokesman said: 'The retirement date of the aircraft is under review. In the current commercial environment where business and premium brands are under increased pressure, it's only prudent for us to think carefully about when we should retire Concorde

03-02-2003, 11:59 PM	#4
9V-SVC AirBoeingBus Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 4,587	That is very sad to see concorde gone for good , I do hope one of them will head to Singapore aviation museum . __________________ My jetphotos.net photos Plane pictures.net photos Let's welcome Boeing newest product, the Boeing 7E7.

03-03-2003, 06:09 AM	#5
johnrico Senior Collector Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Singapore Age: 23 Posts: 321	Does Singapore has an aviation museum?? I know there is a military one.. but civilian??? __________________ GO TO www.NINERVICTOR.com Singapore's 1st Aviation Scene Discussion Board!

03-03-2003, 12:55 PM	#7
Impman Senior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Suffolk, Great Britain Posts: 296	A typical BA attitude, considering the British public paid for those planes, who do they think they are, telling us what will & wont happen to them. They should be made to give them back to the state & let someone else decide their fate. S.B. Last edited by Impman; 03-03-2003 at 12:58 PM.

03-03-2003, 01:40 PM	#9
R. Minor Mr. Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Orlando Age: 35 Posts: 4,426	Hello... Boeing??? Can you say Sonic Cruiser? __________________ Ron ~ MCO Fly Airbus Jets...

03-02-2003, 09:38 PM	#2
Tony Sepanski Master Collector Join Date: May 2000 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 798	I know R.Branson has been very good for British commercial aviation, but sometimes his bombastic tirades get a little ridiculous. Virgin's ability to operate the Concorde would be incredibly expensive. Why would they want to do this? It can't be because they would make a profit...I just thinking out loud here...

03-02-2003, 11:35 PM	#3
Starliner Senior Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Norman OK USA Posts: 452	Considering a couple of hissing alley cats get along better than British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, I don't see this happening; I think BA would rather push them into the Channel than see VS get them. But it would make an interesting 1:400 concept model. Gemini already has a very nice Concorde mould.

03-03-2003, 06:31 AM	#6
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	VS, oh dear..... I know they have a good reputation for service but I detest Richard Branson and refuse to buy from any of his associated companies. The guy has came a long way for a guy that started his career with a customs and excise fraud... He's full of empty promisses and verbal crap, if you wanna see the Virgin company in action take a ride on one of their trains here in the UK, they're one of the worst train companies in Britain and a national disgrace! Rant mode off! If The Concorde is to be taken out of service then I think it should go to museums, realistically if BA are struggling then nobody else will make it work, and it's an old aircraft now. I think Duxford is guaranteed one, the Science museum may be given one, I suspect the Smithsonian will get one, then the others-who knows? I guess a lot of museums will be arguing their case! Justin

03-03-2003, 01:25 PM	#8
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	Not really, they were sold off with British Airways so are BA property to do with as they please. Justin

03-03-2003, 02:24 PM	#10
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	Maybe the Sonic Cruiser is just on ice and they'll dust the plans off when the market picks up? In some ways I thought it was a better project than the 7E7 as it would have a captive market for a premium product whereas the 7E7 is just an incremental advance that Airbus will probably counter with a NG version of the A330 at some point. Also, the market is down now, but considering the lead time of the sonic cruiser this might not hhave been so critical. I think Boeing lost a business window, as Airbus were fully committed with bringing the A340-500/600 into service and launching the A380 Boeing had a window of a couple of years where Airbus were unable to answer Boeing's challenge and Boeing could have opened up a critical lead in developing a next generation airliner that could have given it major problems, so I'm a little sad Boeing went for the safe option, but then again Boeing know more than me and it's not my money, Justin

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