The weather has been pretty lousy this week, so I'm not complaining too loudly about being a shut-in. I've gotten a lot of work done, although conference calls are a little different with the cat sitting on my lap. Thanks to Maura, George, Diane and Joe for calling to check on my SARS symptoms and/or level of stir-craziness.

A while ago I wrote about the experience of flying on the Concorde. They've been flying for 27 years, and sadly, it was announced today that the ride is over.

British Airways and Air France today signalled the end of the supersonic era in aviation by announcing that they were retiring their Concorde planes this year.

BA blamed falling passenger levels and rising maintenance costs for the decision to scrap flights.

Both BA and Air France said their Concorde operations would stop at the end of October 2003. Air France's last transatlantic flight by Concorde will be on May 31.

They're planning to make the last six months a grand exit for the birds:

From now, and for travel until the end of August, BA is offering a London to New York one-way ticket on Concorde and a subsonic return in economy class for £1,999.

One-way on Concorde and a subsonic return in business class (Club World) will be £2,999, while one-way on Concorde and a subsonic return in first class will be £3,499.

Considering how much it cost for BA Business Class these days, that's a pretty darn good deal.

Quote du jour:

"The airplane stays up because it doesn't have the time to fall."

-- Orville Wright (1871 - 1948)
US inventor, aviation pioneer

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