Popular Nostalgia

Following a crash at Charles de Gaulle crash in 2000, an investigation led to a series of safety improvements to the design of the Concorde. However, this wasn’t enough to save the service, which was eventually retired in 2003.

Richard Branson had offered to buy the fleet for £1 to keep it in service -later raising his bid to £5 million. In his autobiography “Losing my Virginity”, Branson cites many confrontations and snubs with British Airways, claiming that the British Airways establishment disliked the upstart entrepreneur. The official reasons for the retirement were Airbus’ refusal to maintain the planes and declining air travel in the wake of 9/11.

The farewell itself was emotional with the Air France jet being sprayed by water cannons full of red, white and blue coloured water. On the final BA flight were; supermodel Jodie Kidd, motoring presenter Jeremy Clarkson, veteran politician Tony Benn, actress Joan Collins, former Formula 1 Chief Bernie Ecclestone and BA Chairman Lord Marshall.