Move Over Branson, Someone Else Wants BA's Concordes

To our knowledge, the Concorde never made a flight to Kalamazoo (MI). But, if the Aviation History Museum has its way, that may change. And, boy, will Richard Branson be mad.

The request from the Michigan museum, along with a similar request from Seattle's Museum of flight, are among some 300 inquiries to British Airways from around the world, most of which ask, "Say, what're you going to do with those Concordes after they're retired"

The New York Post reports suggestions have ranged from turning the Concordes into restaurants, wedding chapels, props for music videos and "hiring them for the day," said Karen Franklin, a British Airways spokeswoman.

One's Already Spoken For

Back in 1989, Air France, the other company flying Concordes, agreed to donate one of the supersonic jetliners to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington (DC).

But Not Everyone Wants Them For Posterity

One of those asking is Virgin Atlantic's brash CEO, Richard Branson. He plans to keep at least some of the Concordes flying. In an article last week, we reported Branson's offer is almost laughably small. About one British Pound Sterling for each of the BA Concordes ( ANN: April 27, 2003, "Branson To Buy Aging Concorde Fleet?"). But Branson has a problem. He wants BA to disclose its operational expenses on the Concordes, something the royal flag carrier is not willing to do.

BA will end its Concorde flights in October. Air France will shut them down by the end of this month.

FMI: www.airzoo.com, www.museumofflight.org, www.virgin-atlantic.com