Concorde Letter in this months issue

I put that point to the management pilots and they said if they don’t sort out the short term there won’t be any need for a strategic view! Branson isn’t short of ‘wonderful’ ideas but invariably it’s not him that has to pick up the pieces to make them work.

I think RB has more of a strategic view, rather than merely looking at how Conc will affect short term profits.

Having spoken to a Virgin manager recently and a couple of their management pilots there is a lot of concern going round just in case Branson actually succeeds in getting a Concorde. Their business is still struggling enough with coping with the after effects of the last 2 years without operating a high cost PR aircraft. RB’s views are definitely not shared by the people who actually run the airline. If BA genuinely want to get rid of Virgin the easiest way for them to do it is to give them all their Concordes for nothing right now!

regards
wys

The letter isn’t absolutely accurate, but it is nearer the truth than any other I have seen.

It isn’t a case of Airbus needing two airlines flying Corcorde for it to be worthwhile, they have been pressuring BA and AF to ground the aircraft for a long time now, as truth be told it has been a commercial liability to all three companies for some time now.

With AF deciding to ground their fleet BA were backed into a corner as Airbus piled on the pressure to do the same. I also suspect that it was good timing for BA.

I understand the emotion of this aircraft ( I had in fact just applied to work on the fleet when its retirement was announced (I am BA cabin Crew)), however bottom line is that airlines, even the big ones, are businesses that are about making money, and this aircraft is a commercial nightmare in todays aviation industry.

Regarding Richard Branson and Concorde, he is doing what he does best, milking a publicity opportunity! If he thought for one moment he had any chance of getting his hands on Concorde he wouldn’t have said a word about it. As it is he can bleat on about it without any risk of Virgin ever having to operate the aircraft.

Concorde would be a disaster for Virgin, and as a great fan of the airline, I think that would be a bigger shame than Concorde being retired.

1L.

I agree with Ren, what about Sir Richard

I read it and I think it insinuates Airbus need at least two airlines running the plane to make it worth their while… So why not Mr Branson then ?