Dave Howlings' letter (Flight International, 5-11 August), surely indicates that British Airways is trying to prevent free enterprise and hold the monopoly on Concorde.
The taxpayer funded the development of this aircraft and BA, I believe paid £1 for each aircraft. Sir Richard Branson has offered to pay £1 million each in an attempt to save Concorde from retirement. I would imagine a 1 million percent profit would be acceptable to any business, especially when it has made a loss of £60 million for the first quarter of 2003 and a further loss is imminent. BA has had its chance to make a go of operating Concorde: now let Branson show them how it is done.
Branson flies the British flag on his aircraft. I say the taxpayer should decide to let him keep flying the British flagship.
Anthony Mullard Colnbrook, Berkshire, UK
Source: Flight International
