The letters (Flight International, 13-19 May) about the retention of Concorde do little but make an emotive plea to retain this aircraft in service. However, the airline industry is just that - an industry. It cannot be expected to perpetuate services that are not profitable.
Let it not be forgotten that the Concorde that crashed was an Air France aircraft taking off from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. I have little doubt that this accident had a much greater effect on the French than on the British. Economic conditions and public confidence have, to date, sealed the fate of this technological icon of Anglo-French co-operation.
I wonder if Air France and British Airways have done all they could to assure their Concorde frequent flyers of the safety of the aircraft in light of the work undertaken to ensure that this accident could not be repeated.
Mike Horswill Derby, UK
Source: Flight International
