Fifty Years Ago: Concorde Took Flight on Commercial Routes
On January 21, 1976, the Concorde supersonic jet started commercial flights, marking a new chapter in aviation. Air France and British Airways both launched their first Concorde services on the same day, but to different destinations.
Air France flew from Paris to Rio de Janeiro with a stop in Dakar, completing the journey in 7 hours and 26 minutes—about four hours faster than regular flights. British Airways began flights from London to Bahrain, focusing on premium business and government travelers.
UK Ambassador Reflects
UK Ambassador to Bahrain, Alastair Long, shared a picture of the Concorde on the ground in Bahrain from his office in a social media video. "It is a great symbol of UK aviation, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and it also represents the strong relationship between the UK and Bahrain. Even today, we are very proud of that historic moment." he said.
Supersonic Speed and Design
The Concorde could cruise at over twice the speed of sound (Mach 2.02) and fly nearly 18,000 meters above the ground. It could carry about 100 passengers. Its speed, high altitude, and sleek design made it a technological marvel, though it was expensive to operate due to high fuel use and limited seating.
Reduced Routes and Focus on Major Cities
By the early 1980s, Concorde routes were reduced. Air France stopped regular flights to Rio in 1982, focusing on Paris–New York. British Airways concentrated on London–New York, where travelers were willing to pay extra for the time savings.
Setbacks and Retirement
A major setback came on July 25, 2000, when Air France Flight 4590 crashed after takeoff from Paris, killing everyone on board and four people on the ground. Concorde returned to service after technical fixes, but passenger demand never fully recovered.
After the September 11 attacks, rising costs and fewer ultra-premium travelers led both airlines to retire Concorde fleets in 2003, ending 27 years of commercial supersonic flight.
The Future of Supersonic Travel
New projects aim to revive supersonic travel. Boom Supersonic’s Overture is designed to carry around 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, with longer range and reduced sonic booms. It promises faster, more efficient, and more sustainable supersonic flights in the future.
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