Forty years ago yesterday, flyers were able to experience of new level of luxury and speed as the Concorde began commercial service with Air France and British Airways. The new supersonic jet of the future would go on to a stellar career that lasted 27 years, until the fiery crash of an Air France Concorde in 2000 rang the airplanes death knell. In April of 2003, Air France and British Airways both announced that they would be retiring their Concorde fleets. They cited low passenger numbers after the 2000 crash, the decline in air travel following 9/11, and sky high maintenance costs as the reasons. A grand total of just 20 Concorde’s would ever be built by the British and French government joint venture.
