UK. Travel Retail Consortium hosted its ‘Open Hangar Doors’ event this week (22 May) at the Concorde Conference Centre in Altrincham, Manchester. The Moodie Davitt Report was on location for the annual event, which included a product showcase from TRC members.
These included Accolade Wines, Aurora, Kurate International’s Belle & Beau, Champagne Tattinger, Coti Vision, Ian Macleod Distillers’ Edinburgh Gin, Harrogate Spring Water, Heineken, Imperial Brands, Rémy Cointreau and Time Products’ Sekonda. The line-up also featured latest members Au Vodka, Bulters Chocolates, Bluedog Group, Mondottica and Molton Brown.
The ‘Open Hangar Doors’ event, as the name suggests, included a tour of the onsite Concorde aircraft. Guests were offered a sneak peek into the supersonic airliner’s tumultuous history.
It was the product of an Anglo-French collaboration between Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation. Concorde first took flight in 1969 and entered service in 1976.
The aircraft was renowned for its delta-wing design and ability to cruise at speeds over twice the speed of sound (Mach 2.04). Only 20 Concordes were ever built, and they were operated by British Airways and Air France.
TAS Trading Concorde Tour Guide G-BOAC Manchester Gareth J Bond explained: “Supersonic means faster than the speed of sound, the time it takes for my voice to reach you. To give an example, this aircraft could travel from London to New York in about three-and-a-half hours.
“So with Concorde you could actually see two sunrises and two sunsets in one day – that’s why I often say it’s like a time machine.”
“One day,” you said to me, “I saw the sunset forty-four times!” – The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
However, due to high operational costs, limited seating and environmental concerns, Concorde flights were expensive and exclusive. A tragic crash in 2000 and the subsequent economic downturn following the 9/11 attacks led to its retirement in 2003.
The aircraft tour was followed by a gala dinner supporting TRC’s charity partner Family Holiday Charity. The organisation helps families going through difficult situations to get time away together – often for the first time.
Family Holiday Charity Director, Income and Engagement Mags Rivett remarked: “It’s not just about holidays, it’s about what happens after them and their impact on families.
“Our charity’s goal is, ultimately, we’d like to not exist – we want holidays to be accessible for everyone.” ✈
Scroll to explore the ‘Open Hangar Doors’ photogallery
