The decision has been make for commercial reasons with passenger revenue falling steadily against a backdrop of rising maintenance costs for the aircraft.Detailed discussions over an exteneded period with Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, confirmed the need for an enhanced maintenance programme in the coming years, and such investment was considered unjustified.For Pilkington Aerospace, the original equipment supplier of cockpit windows and visors on Concorde, the aircraft's retirement will mark the end of a long association of which it is extremely proud.Development of the aircraft's windows in the 1960s established new technology benchmarks by introducing 1020 thermally bonded high strength glass and Hyviz heated coatings.The technology subsequently became the foundation for aircraft windscreens and can be found today on the Boeing 747, Airbus A320 and many other aircraft.
The window designs have provided exceptional service reliability and safety standards during Concorde's 27-year service life and Pilkington Aerospace will continue to support both the British Airways and Air France Concorde fleets over the remaining months as part of the planned celebration of supersonic travel.
Pilkington: End of an era for Concorde
The recent decision by British Airways and Air France to retire their Concorde fleets will end a fantastic era in world aviation.