Concorde 'back in service next month'

British Airways and Air France are likely to get the go-ahead next week to resume Concorde passenger services.

British Airways and Air France are likely to get the go-ahead next week to resume Concorde passenger services.

Its permission-to-fly certificate was withdrawn last summer following the Air France Concorde crash which claimed 113 lives.

An Anglo-French Concorde working group says it is now likely the certificate will be restored for all Concordes by the end of August.

It is believed that a decision on the certificate - which each of BA's seven Concordes and Air France's remaining five must have - will be made on August 28th.

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Both airlines have made extensive modifications to their supersonic fleet to avoid any possibility of a repeat of last year's catastrophe.

BA has made a number of successful test flights and the modifications, which include tougher tyres and bullet proof linings to the fuel tanks, have worked well.

BA has already said it hopes to begin fare-paying flights in September and Air France wants to start in October.