From The concorde SST website.
"In 1977, the airlines bought their initial complement of 9 aircraft for around £23 million each ($46 million US dollars). This would equate to around £200 million ($350 million) at todays prices. The 5 unsold aircraft were placed with the airlines in 1979/80 and a few years later sold, as part of a larger multi-million pound deal, for the token sum of 1 French franc and £1 each in the UK"
So I'm both right and wrong.
"The development costs of Concorde were around £1.134 billion, which was funded by the UK and French governments. The cost to build the 16 production Concordes was £654 million of which £278 million was recovered through sales returns (this included spares, technical support, etc.). This debit was also funded by the 2 governments"
So the program cost the UK and French tax payers £376M+1134M=£1.1510 billion and without it Airbus probably would have never existed. The decision to remove her from service early is a shameful one, it shows how mercenary people have become. Not a good trait in any way.
BA made a profit from Concorde overall and could have fought a bit harder and even got the government involved if they had really wanted to keep her, but they obviously didn't want Concorde and as you say they unfortunately have the right to do with them as they please. Having seen the public reaction though, it does seem to have been a serious own goal. "The world's favourite airline"?? Not any more.......
