UK: But British Airways still says there is no prospect of reviving service
Sir Richard Branson is still trying to get financial information on Concorde so he can decide whether to try to revive the supersonic jet – but British Airways still appears to be blocking the move.
As reported, Virgin Atlantic has offered to pay British Airways £1 for Concorde – the amount paid by the flag-carrier to the Government when it bought the fleet of jets from the Government – but BA has refused to entertain the offer.
According to the Independent, Sir Richard has written to the BA stating that he finds BA’s attitude “totally baffling”, and asking for a copy of BA’s last financial statement to the Government. He added: “If BA wants to stop flying Concorde that’s its commercial decision. I have no problem with that. But in the circumstances, why should that stop someone else from having a go at keeping this beautiful aircraft in the air. With Virgin Atlantic’s lower costs and marketing flair there must be a good chance we could make a go of it, even if BA can’t.”
Lord Marshall, chairman, British Airways, today issued the following response: “British Airways carried out an in-depth review of Concorde operations with the manufacturers. Regrettably this clearly established that there was no realistic prospect for the operation of Concorde services beyond October 2003 whether by us or any other operator.”
He also said the fleet cost British Airways considerably more than the sum of one pound which has appeared in the press recently: “In fact the British Airways Board paid the manufacturers over £155 million for the aircraft. Over the course of the succeeding 27 years, British Airways has invested in excess of £1 billion into the Concorde operation.”
