Last Concorde to Join QE2 on Palm Jumeirah
April 9, 2009 by QE2
Filed under QE2 News, QE2 Palm Jumeirah
Concorde celebrates its 40th birthday tomorrow, but according to media reports the last remaining British Airways is due to be shipped off to The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
The Times is claiming that a UAE-based consortium wants to turn the aircraft into a tourist attraction, possibly to be marketed alongside the QE2 cruise ship.
Britain’s flag carrier donated six of its seven-strong Concorde fleet to museums after they were grounded following the Air France incident in 2000.
The seventh craft, Alpha Bravo, has been tucked away at the engineering base of London Heathrow Airport ever since, and was expected to be put on public display.
But the latest reports suggest that the plane – seen by many as a symbol of national pride – will now be dismantled before being shipped off to Dubai.
“Sending it to Dubai would be a kick in the teeth for Britain’s aviation heritage,” Ben Lord, spokesman for the Save Concorde Group, complained to The Times.
“Chopping off its wings and putting it on a ship would be the final insult.”
Last year, famed ocean liner the QE2 was retired from service and sold to Nakheel in Dubai, who are turning it into a floating hotel moored at Palm Jumeirah.
There is not a single chance that Dubai will have a Concorde on display. British Airways has said that Concorde AB will be staying at Heathrow for the time being. Dubai has no history with Concorde. Of all places Concorde should be sent to (if anywhere) Singapore would be the right choice as the plane used to fly there via Barhain. Dubai has no business with Concorde.
Dubai should sell QE2 to another country before she sinks in the harbour god i hate when things like this happens and why did cunard sell it to Dubai as ever nation knew the country was having money problems i hope the future is good for QE2