UK: Cutbacks will re-ignite speculation over future of jet, writes Simon Calder
British Airways has admitted cancelling several Concorde flights in the last few weeks.
The carrier yesterday admitted that four return flights from London to New York were cancelled between 31 March and 13 April, blaming the cancellations on work that needs to be carried out to satisfy new United States security arrangements.
According to The Independent’s Simon Calder, the airline has stated that it has had to cut back on services because of work still being carried out to reinforce the cockpit doors on Concorde jets – and that four return flights have been cancelled in recent weeks.
Calder speculates, however, that the cancellations could be yet another sign that the legendary jet’s days are numbered. Even the BA chief executive Rod Eddington has stated that present demand for Concorde only supports one London to New York flight a day, Calder points out.
He goes on to quote the airline consultant Jamie Bowden thus: “Concorde’s profitability has undoubtedly been affected by the economic downturn and the aircraft can no longer exist as simply a flagship.”
