United Airlines First U.S. Carrier to Order Boom Overture Supersonic Plane
The new aircraft would ferry passengers from New York to London in under 3.5 hours.
United Airlines announced a deal to buy 15 Overture supersonic aircraft from Boom Technology, an upstart in the airplane manufacturing business.
The deal, which includes options for 35 more, is contingent on the aircraft meeting United’s safety, operating, and sustainability requirements, United said in a statement. The aircraft has yet to be built but it is scheduled to roll out in 2025 and go into commercial service in 2026, according to the manufacturer.
“Boom’s vision for the future of commercial aviation, combined with the industry’s most robust route network in the world, will give business and leisure travelers access to a stellar flight experience,” said United’s CEO, Scott Kirby.
The move signals a return to supersonic travel, something that disappeared in 2003 with the final Concorde flight, operated by British Airways.
The order, including options, represents more supersonic aircraft than the 14 Concordes that operated in the period 1969 through 2003 by both BA and Air France.
The Overture, which would use sustainable aviation fuel, would be capable of flying at Mach 1.7, or 1.7 times the speed of sound, according to the manufacturer and United. This would allow a flight from New York to London in three-and-a-half hours or from San Francisco to Tokyo in fewer than six.
The plane can seat 88 passengers in a 1-1 configuration.
The deal, whose terms were not disclosed, does include an industry standard upfront deposit. Boom had not responded to a reporter’s question about the terms at press time.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
