Air France Concorde takes off safely from Paris

More than 15 months after an Air France Concorde crashed in a ball of flame, the world's only supersonic jetliner returned to the skies today - making its long-awaited commercial comeback during one of the worst slumps in aviation history.

Revamped to address safety concerns, an Air France Concorde left Charles de Gaulle airport behind schedule. It took off at 0947 (Irish time) - 17 minutes late - for the three hour, 55 minute flight to New York.

It carried 92 passengers - and a dog.

To show their confidence, French Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot and Air France chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta were on board the passenger flight - the first since the July 25 2000 crash that killed 113 people.

British Airways invitation-only flight was leaving later from Heathrow - its fare-paying flights to New York resume on Friday.

In a third Concorde flight today, Britsh Prime Minister Tony Blair was taking a special charter to Washington to meet President Bush.