Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Concorde Flies Again: Commercial Flights Across Atlantic, First Since Fatal Accident

Aired November 07, 2001 - 10:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: If you were with us earlier this morning, the concorde is back in business again. The British Airways jet landed in New York just about an hour ago, after the arrival of an Air France concorde that showed up a little earlier. They're the first concorde passenger flights since a deadly crash last year, about 15 months ago, outside of Paris.

CNN's Richard Quest, on board that British Airways jet, is with us now, in New York City, to talk about it.

Richard, good morning to you.

I guess there are a couple of things to talk about. How did things change on board as a result of 9/11,. and how did things prior to as a result of the crash 15 months ago. You've flown it before. What did you notice?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Clearly, what has happened with concorde since the crash 15 months ago is really outside the cabin. There has been a refurbishment. The seats more a little more comfortable, and the food has been revamped. But that's about it really.

No! The main changes for the aircraft are the Kevlar lining in the wings, that will help protect against any fuel spillage. It was the Air France one that had the spillage that led to fire that led to the deaths of 113 people. Also, they've got new tires. They've been redesigned so that if debris comes up from the runway, they won't puncture. The wires that caused the spark that caused the fire that caused the crash and the deaths have also been strengthened.

As from September 11, the main difference, really, is the security. We are all bodily searched, right down to my neck and my collar being felt -- in the nicest possible way, I hasten to add. There was a complete search. Luggage was searched against and again.

It may sound trivial, Bill, but the only noticeable difference on board the aircraft itself was the plastic cutlery. Bear in mind you're paying $10,000 to get on board that rocket, and they give you green plastic cutlery. And sources in British Airways tell me there were many discussions about the texture and to make sure it didn't feel cheap and nasty.

HEMMER: Overall, a good flight, Richard?

CHANCE: Yes, it was a bit of a bunfight, to put it crudely.

HEMMER: You say a "bond"?

CHANCE: No, no, "bun," as in currant bun, people grabbing the food and running up and down the aisle. It's an old English expression that you may not be familiar with, an old bunfight. Basically, what it means is there were an enormous number of very important people, of which the press were not part. To with honest, the very important at the front wanted to stay as far from the press, at the back, as possible. But concorde's a small plane.

Other than that, the other big difference was, of course, the mood. We landed in New York. Mayor Rudy Giuliani was here. He welcomed everybody off the aircraft. His simple message to the wealthy people, like the singer Sting, who was on board -- what he was doing there we still haven't discovered -- what Mayor Rudy Giuliani said was welcome to New York; now go out and spend money.

HEMMER: That's been his message for awhile.

Glad you're back on dry land again. Richard, many thanks. Richard Quest, live from New York, fresh off the concorde flying, what 3.5 hours?

QUEST: Three hours, 20 minutes; 55,000; average speed of 1,000 mph; top speed, 1,350 mph. There you are: all the numbers.

HEMMER: We got the numbers, pal. Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com