Air France Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Concorde’s First Commercial Flight

Air France has celebrated the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first commercial flight. On January 21, 1976, Concorde operated its first commercial service to Rio de Janeiro via Dakar.

Concorde was a supersonic passenger aircraft developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom, capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound. Operated by Air France and British Airways, the aircraft significantly reduced flight times, especially on transatlantic routes. Due to high operating costs and safety concerns, Concorde services ended in 2003.

During its time in service, Concorde was considered one of the most advanced examples of aviation technology. However, high fuel consumption, limited passenger capacity, and noise restrictions made the aircraft economically difficult to sustain. Despite this, Concorde continues to hold a special place in aviation history as the symbol of civil supersonic flight.