When Singapore Airlines flew the Concorde

Think of the Concorde and two airlines immediately spring to mind: British Airways and Air France.

Each was of course flag-carrier for the two nations behind the supersonic jet.

But the Concorde was also flown by Singapore Airlines, scything through the skies between Singapore and London in just over nine hours (including a quick refuelling stop at Bahrain).

The Singapore Airlines Concorde.

Singapore Airlines’ Concorde flights were a unique joint venture with British Airways in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

A single Concorde (registered G-BOAD) was decked out with the livery of both airlines, one either side of the plane – Singapore Airlines on the left, and British Airways on the right.

SQ flew the Concorde between Singapore and London.

And while BA manned the flight deck, both airlines supplied a full complement of cabin crew – so that some flights on the BA/SQ Concorde were staffed by British Airways attendants, and others by a local crew which includes the famous ‘Singapore Girls’ in their iconic kebayas.

Singapore Airlines provided a full crew for the Concorde.

The one-way Concorde fare between Singapore and London was SDG$4,298 (around SGD$18,000 in 2025) – some 15% more expensive than a first class ticket on a conventional.

But those whole could afford Concorde enjoyed vintage Champagnes (such as Dom Ruinart 1973 and Mumm Cordon Rouge 1975), caviar and lobster canapés, and indulgent mains such as duckling breast with buttered asparagus spears.

17% of Concorde’s passengers from Singapore to London were Singapore residents, 38% were Brits and 20% were from Australia or New Zealand. Unsurprisingly, four out of five passengers were travelling for business.

Singapore celebrated the SQ Concorde on special bank notes and stamps.

Like most airlines, Singapore Airlines had high hopes for the Concorde.

A planned extension of the London-Singapore route would have seen the supersonic jet fly onwards to Melbourne; short hops around Asia were also pencilled in for Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul and Japan.

The Singapore Airlines Concorde.

Concorde would have flown Singapore-Hong Kong in just 90 minutes instead of the conventional four hours – a dream come true for Concorde’s elite clientele darting between the Asian financial hubs – while Singapore-Tokyo times would be slashed from seven hours to three hours.

However, flights on the prime Singapore-London route often saw just 50 of Concorde’s cramped 100 seats occupied.

Inside the Concorde, things are surprisingly cramped.

And despite the time savings, the discomfort of those small seats combined with higher cabin noise levels proved far less appealing that the comforts of first class on a regular sub-sonic flight.

The Singapore-London Concorde route was scrapped in November 1980, so that BA could focus on the more profitable London-New York route, and the plane itself repainted in full British Airways livery.

You can take a tour of the Concorde at New York's Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

This same Concorde is now on display in New York, at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Manhattan’s west side and overlooking the Hudson River to New Jersey.

The museum’s Concorde Tour even lets you step inside the supersonic jet to only learn more about the technological innovations which made this extraordinary aircraft a part of history, but to close your eyes and briefly imagine what it would have been like as part of that elite jet set.

Read more: Revisiting supersonic glory at New York’s Concorde tour