The airline industry got a much-needed boost yesterday when Air France and British Airways announced they would resume supersonic Concorde flights to New York on November 7th.
The flights had been grounded following the crash of an Air France Concorde near Paris in July 2000 that killed 113 people.
The announcement came as the European and US airline industry struggled to recover from losses stemming from the September 11th attacks in New York and Washington. The attacks forced a temporary closure of US airspace and traumatised the public, leaving many people afraid to fly and airline executives scrambling for solutions.
"We are delighted to be returning Concorde to the skies and back into New York," British Airways chief executive, Mr Rod Eddington, said yesterday.
"We hope Concorde's return will play a major part in rebuilding confidence in New York and demonstrating that it is business as usual between the UK and the USA," he added.
The Mayor of New York, Mr Rudolph Giuliani, hailed the announcement, saying: "Concorde's return is symbolic of how all New Yorkers feel about rebuilding this great city. I am personally proud to welcome Concorde back to New York." New Yorkers, however, have not always been so charitable toward Concorde. Residents who lived near Kennedy airport protested bitterly about noise before the supersonic airliner first flew there in October 1977.
However, yesterday the chairman of Air France, Mr Jean-Cyril Spinetta, said: "Concorde's return to New York is symbolic of Air France's tribute to the people of this city, to their strength and their strong resolve to rebuild."
"Within our own ranks, we have not forgotten the show of sympathy and support of many New Yorkers in the hours and days following the Concorde accident on July 25th, 2000."
A BA spokesman declined to reveal details of new security measures to be applied on board the planned flights, saying: "Obviously we would not be flying Concorde to New York unless we were 100 per cent convinced it was safe to do so. Stun guns are something we are actively looking at for our pilots, including Concorde. [Air] marshals is another thing we are looking at, just as we are looking at all the other publicly-mooted ideas."
After the July 2000 crash, investigators determined that a sharp metal strip on the runway at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris had burst one of the aircraft's tyres. Heated fragments of flying debris then ruptured a fuel tank, turning the jet into a fireball that crashed into a hotel near the airport.
In addition to the 109 passengers and crew onboard the plane, four people on the ground were killed.
The supersonic airliner only won back its airworthiness certificate after manufacturers modified fuel tanks, tyres and electric wiring near the undercarriage to ensure that a repeat accident could never happen.
BA originally hoped to get Concorde back in the skies before the end of the summer, but plans were delayed by the September 11th attacks that badly affected demand for transatlantic travel.
A BA spokeswoman said: "Interest is very high from corporate users and frequent flyers. We have been talking to them and they are keen to get back in the air on board Concorde. It's early to say but we are very positive about the future of Concorde."
After an initial November 7th trip for corporate customers and media, BA will operate six services a week between Heathrow and Kennedy airports.
Air France will offer five flights per week from Charles de Gaulle airport. BA is also planning to relaunch its London-Barbados service once a week from December.