Economic Concerns Surrounding Concorde

The Concorde program faced significant skepticism regarding its economic viability, especially as it was over budget and behind schedule by the time of its first production. Negotiations between government representative Michael Hesselton and British Airways revealed deep concern regarding the jet's operational costs, particularly its fuel consumption and limited seating capacity, which made it less competitive compared to conventional aircraft. British Airways expressed that the Concorde would be operating at a loss, highlighting the need for government guarantees to underwrite any financial shortfalls. Despite Hesselton's belief in the program's future prospects, the stark realities of maintaining operational profitability haunted the negotiations and set the tone for ongoing challenges.