Concorde plan dropped

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 9

Concorde plan dropped

PA Wellington American Express has dropped its plan to bring the supersonic jet Concorde to New Zealand in February. The credit card company wanted to bring the jet to Auckland for a return flight to London for its cardholders but said on Monday it was unable to fill the 100seat jet by the deadline imposed by British Airways.

The withdrawal of American Express leaves the field open for a Palmerston North businessman, Mr Kenneth Irons, whose Bonaventure management consultancy firm intends a re-

turn trip by Concorde in April to coincide with the best views of Halley’s Comet. Mr Irons has attracted prospective passengers from America and Europe, and said some of the Australian options were already sold out. Other options were still available.

An American Express spokesman, Mr John Macnaughton said the Concorde project was not completely dead and the company would decide on Friday whether it could be revived or adapted.

He was disappointed by the lack of sales of the $6950 seats, as there had been

indications that the scheme could have sold well. “It was costed at'breakeven as a benefit to cardholders. We had to be sure that we could cover our costs. We are doing what we can to resurrect it,” he said.