United Airlines forges pact for Boom Supersonic airliners
Interested in flying from Newark to London in just three and a half hours? Nearly eighteen years after the Concorde took off, United Airlines has announced a commercial agreement with Denver-based Boom Supersonic to add 50 supersonic aircraft to its global fleet.
Under the terms of the agreement, United will purchase 15 of Boom's Overture-branded airliners, "once Overture meets United's demanding safety, operation and stability requirements", the airline and Boom say in a statement. United also has the option of acquiring an additional 35 Overture aircraft.
Overture is set to begin in 2025, fly in 2026 and carry passengers in 2029, a few years after the originally anticipated service-entry date. BOOM says the Overture will be able to fly at a speed of Mach 1.7, which is twice the speed of the fastest aircraft today.
Notably, the Overture is expected from day one to be the first large commercial aircraft with net-zero carbon, optimized to run on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). And, as part of their arrangement, United and Boom will work together to accelerate production of more of SAF's supply.
"United continues on its trajectory to create a more innovative, sustainable airline and today's advances in technology are making it more feasible to incorporate supersonic aircraft. Boom's vision for the future of commercial aviation, the industry in the world." With the U.S.'s strongest route network, business and leisure travelers will have access to an immersive flying experience,” says United CEO Scott Kirby, who has led the carrier as it partners with a major seeking to decarbonize air travel. Tech companies.
To wit, United revealed in February that it had inked an agreement to invest in urban air mobility company Archer, which is developing an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft.
Meanwhile, BOOM believes there are around 500 routes connecting major hub airports that Overture will accommodate. In addition to Newark-London, other possible future overture routes for United are Newark-Frankfurt in four hours and San Francisco-Tokyo in six hours.
While supersonic travel conjures up images of well-heeled passengers drinking champagne and eating caviar as they jet across the Atlantic, the boom doesn't necessarily mean airfare is stratospheric for passengers. As such, the firm is targeting the same economics as today's roundtrip business class. According to BOOM, the Overture will be designed with features like in-seat IFE and contactless technology.
"The world's first purchase agreement for a net-zero carbon supersonic aircraft is an important step towards our mission to create a more accessible world," says Blake Sholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonics.
“United and BOOM have a common objective – to unite the world in a safe and sustainable way. At double the speed, United travelers will experience all the benefits of life individually, from deeper, more productive business relationships to far-flung destinations Until more comfortable holidays. ”
Boom's one-third-scale XB-1 demonstrator aircraft debuted last year, and its net-zero carbon flight test program is underway. The company says Overture's order book, including purchases and options, is at 70 aircraft, and is working with the United States Air Force for Overture's government applications.