National Press

Wednesday, 13 May 2026
BREAKING
Politics

LIVE: The Return of Supersonic Travel: First Concorde-2 Flight Confirmed

ER
By Eleanor Rigby
Published 12 May 2026

Whitehall sources confirm a deal has been struck. The first Concorde-2 flight is set for next week. Inside players tell me this was brokered in a smoke-filled room between Number 10 and aviation giants.

It's a gamble. Supersonic travel is back. The old Concorde was killed by cost and a crash.

Now, with green tech and a government desperate for a legacy, they're bringing it back. The flight path is London to New York. The time: 3 hours.

The price: eye-watering. Critics will scream about climate targets. But this is a political play.

A big, shiny project to distract from the endless rebellions. The PM wants a legacy. This could be it.

Watch for leaks from the Treasury. They're nervous about the subsidy. And the backlash from green MPs is already rumbling.

The flight itself is a test. If it works, expect a scramble for routes. The City of London is already lobbying.

The real game is about who gets the contracts. I'm hearing whispers of a Midlands factory build. That's votes.

Pure and simple. The flight will be live-streamed. The PR machine is in overdrive.

But the political risk is high. One technical glitch and it's a disaster. For now, the champagne is on ice.

But the corks could fly in either direction.