When Concorde entered passenger service in 1976, New York was the most important transatlantic market—but U.S. approval was complicated. Noise regulations and protests against sonic booms delayed scheduled service to John F. Kennedy International Airport until November 22, 1977, when British Airways and Air France were finally allowed to operate regular Concorde flights into New York.
During publicity runs, the aircraft was often photographed against the Manhattan skyline, with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center serving as a dramatic backdrop. These images became iconic—sleek supersonic technology soaring above the symbol of global finance.
One particularly famous moment occurred on October 19, 1977, when a Concorde (Air France) made a ceremonial flight over New York City after test landings at JFK. It passed low enough over lower Manhattan for photographers to capture the jet crossing above the World Trade Center towers—images that were later used in promotional materials.
For the next two decades, Concorde was a frequent sight on the New York–London and New York–Paris routes, with the Twin Towers often visible during arrivals and departures from JFK. The pairing of Concorde and the World Trade Center became a symbol of late 20th-century ambition: engineering marvels of speed and height sharing the same skyline.
The 9/11 attacks had a devastating effect on the aviation industry worldwide, leading to a sharp decline in air travel and public confidence in flying. Concorde’s primary market was high-end business and leisure travel between London/Paris and New York. A significant number of Concorde’s most frequent customers, including many who worked at the World Trade Center, were killed in the attacks.
The subsequent global downturn in travel, combined with the already high costs of operating the aircraft and the aftermath of the 2000 crash, ultimately sealed Concorde’s fate. It was a contributing factor in British Airways’ and Air France’s decision to retire the fleet in 2003.
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