Aerodynamics may have dictated the sleek shape of the Concorde, but the aircraft featured futuristic design—both inside and out. A Concorde passenger jet in flight, circa 1976. Evening Standard/Getty Images Published: March 06, 2026Last Updated: March 06, 2026 The first commercial Concorde flights took off on January 21, 1976. Two Concordes, each operated by one of the partner airlines that funded and developed the supersonic technology, departed simultaneously.