Concorde's swansong visit

Concorde landed at Belfast International Airport

Concorde has made its swansong visit to Northern Ireland.

The supersonic jet arrived at Belfast International Airport, Aldergrove, on Tuesday.

The farewell flight was the second leg in its week-long tour of the United Kingdom before the plane is retired.

On Monday, Concorde flew on a return trip to Birmingham and, in its five-day schedule, it will also visit Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester.

On board Tuesday's Belfast flight were more than 20 lucky passengers from Northern Ireland, taking their place in aviation history.

We are delighted that so many people are able to enjoy taking part in such a historic event Martin George British Airways

The flight travelled at twice the speed of sound - 1350mph - over the Bay of Biscay.

The passengers enjoyed a champagne flight to Heathrow.

It was the last chance for people in Northern Ireland to see the plane flying overhead.

Martin George, British Airways director of marketing, said: "There was a fantastic response to our competition and we are delighted that so many people are able to enjoy taking part in such a historic event."

Last chance

Concorde last visited Northern Ireland in 1994 when she flew delegates into the city to attend the John Major Investment Conference.

The final journey from Edinburgh on Friday will carry BA staff and will be one of three consecutive flights to land at Heathrow to mark the end of 27 years of commercial Concorde service.

A fall in passenger numbers and high maintenance costs have been blamed for the decision by BA and Air France to retire Concorde. Air France ceased its supersonic flights last May.