Branson offers to take over Concorde

Virgin Atlantic Airways chairman Richard Branson said tonight he would try to revive Concorde after British Airways and Air France announced the fleet would be retired from service at the end of October 2003.

The multi-millionaire said: “Since the BA announcement this morning we have been flooded with calls from the public, including BA staff, asking us to see if we can keep Concorde flying.

“When the Conservative government gave BA Concorde for £1 they said that if another British company ever wanted to operate it, they could. As a result of the public’s response today I will be asking BA to provide me with the full operating figures.”

Branson continued: “If, having examined the figures, Virgin Atlantic, with its lower cost base, believes it can make a success of it, we will be asking BA to give us the planes for the same price that they were given them for together with the (take-off and landing) slots and other facilities that they use.

“This might come to nothing but I believe that every effort should be made to keep Concorde flying as it is such an important symbol of British innovation.”