Why You Couldn’t Afford To Fly Concorde

Concorde was the world’s most iconic airliner and one of the most technically ambitious projects in aviation history. Billions were spent on its development over a span of more than a decade. When the Concorde program was launched, it was to be the next giant leap forward in air travel. Many believed that mass supersonic commercial air travel would be commonplace by the end of the 1970s.

By the early 1960s, both the British and French had come up with early designs for supersonic airliners. As both efforts moved toward the prototype phase, it increasingly made sense for the two countries to work together to shoulder development costs and the immense technical hurdles. Britain and France formally partnered to launch the Concorde program by signing a treaty in 1962.

Thousands of the brightest French and British engineers were dedicated to making supersonic air travel a reality. By 1963, mockups of Concorde were already capturing the world’s imagination and dazzling the press. Airlines soon placed orders for more than 70 Concordes. Orders were expected to grow to at least 200 by 1975. The Soviet Union responded with the development of their own supersonic airliner and the United States launched the Supersonic Transport program.

However, by the early 1970s, the prospect of mass supersonic travel began to fade. Concorde would enter commercial service in the mid-to-late 1970s, just as the price of oil began to skyrocket. Concorde burned nearly four times more fuel than even a first generation jetliner. Like all supersonic aircraft, Concorde generated sonic booms. Public tolerance for sonic booms had been underestimated, and as countries started banning supersonic flights over their airspace, limited route options made Concorde less appealing to airlines. By the end of 1973, nearly every airline cancelled their options. All the while, Concorde’s development costs had ballooned to more than ten times original estimates.

British Airways and Air France were ultimately the only airlines to put Concordes into service, taking delivery of just a handful of aircraft each. The two airlines would eventually turn a profit by branding Concorde as an ultra-exclusive way to travel. Ticket prices were set as high as $12,000 for a London to New York round trip for the elite few who could afford the price of flying supersonic. While the prospect of mass supersonic travel never arrived, Concorde earned a legacy as an engineering marvel and symbol of pride for the British and French until it's retirement in 2003.

Select footage courtesy the AP Archive:

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[SirFlukealot]

My grandad flew on Concorde for his job, he told me how he could attend a business meeting in New York and be back home for dinner. He lived in central England.

[ChevronTango]

I was in Barbados as a boy when my dad took me to the airport. We parked at the end of the runway and watched as one of the last Concorde's flew mere feet above our head to land for its final trip across the Atlantic. I shall never forget the awe and majesty of that aircraft. A unique mark in our aviation history.

[kingjohn]

The way the engines were integrated in Comet's wings looked so beautiful.

[WatchmakerErik]

Despite the problems, Concorde is a beautiful design and an amazing accomplishment. Everyone involved should be proud.

[SirLoinOfsteak]

I lived under the Concorde flightpath; used to set off all the car alarms as it took off and rattle the glass panes in the windows. People would still rush out to see it every time it passed.

There will never be such a charismatic commercial jet ever again.

[GR-scph]

I flew to NY once on concorde and its an experience i will never forget till i die; take off was ‘vertical’ like a rocket and although not very comfortable inside, it was just amazing. Hopefully there will be another one soon

[notyourbusiness]

And finally, the trilogy is complete. Congrats.

[tommyrad]

I remember the sonic booms back in the 60s from Hughes Aircraft flying around, near Marina Del Rey CA. I don't remember anyone complaining about the sound... ever. As kids, we thought the booms were pretty cool and would instantly look up to the skies to see the plane, if possible. But by the time we heard the boom, it was long gone. Good times.

[Matlg]

I don’t care what anyone says, that airplane was one of the most beautiful and amazing airplane that ever flew!

[tetragon]

In an unusual twist of irony, Concorde found assistance in selling tickets from a different sector of travel; one that was nearly wiped out by her predecessors, the early jets. That sector was the Ocean Liner operators. An unusual anachronism of the time, Cunard was still just about hanging on with the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. However, they became quite a large buyer of one-way Concorde tickets.

Cunard bought, in bulk, large numbers of Concorde tickets and bundled them with tickets for the QE2. This just barely managed to push the price of Concorde tickets down to a level where moderately well-off enthusiasts could afford to fly the Concorde, after spending a week sailing on the very last of the mighty ocean liners of the past. An unusual combination, but one that worked well for both sides.

[rounakmukherjee]

When I was a kid, I had a toy model airplane. It was the only toy plane I had and kept it safely in cupboard. It was a Concorde. From that age itself, I remembered one name always- Concorde. It was a type of dream. I still remember the size of the toy and the colours. It is still one of the very early memories of my life: A toy Concorde in my hand. ❤️

[savagecub]

As an airline employee I rode Concorde for $500 ! - best deal ever !

[mrjayjay]

The Concorde featured a droop snoot.

“A droop snoot?”

The snoot would droop.

“The snoot drooped.”

[CheeseTruffles]

‘A sound that nobody wants’

Aviation nerds: *E A R G A S M*

[saabaton]

The story of Concorde is a great allegory for what we can achieve versus what we understand once it's achieved, and that saddens me as Concorde is one of the reasons I became an engineer

[murilovsilva]

“I didn’t kill the Concorde, it never lived.” Wow, that hurt quite a bit. Maybe it’s because of my fascination with all aviation things and especially my passion for the Concorde, but that line made my eyes tear up.

[nolongerusing]

TL;DW:
1. Its hella expensive
2. You're broke.







Doesn't change the fact that the Concorde is beautiful.

[tititarantino]

Why you cant fly Concorde:

1. Its retired

[iybjs]

American Concorde, Russian Concorde...

Finally he treats us with the actual Concorde

[ethangbb]

I love how he incorporated “The snoot droops” when it showed all the features