A Denver-based company is poised to revive the era of supersonic air travel, potentially offering transatlantic flights that cost no more than current commercial flights but take only half the time. This new venture is being hailed as the “son of Concorde,” a reference to the iconic supersonic jet that dazzled the skies in the late 20th century.
Concorde, known for its luxurious service and unrivaled speed, once carried passengers between London and New York in just under three hours. Flying at 1,350 mph at 60,000 feet, it became the epitome of high-end air travel, with champagne and caviar served in the cabin. Its iconic tagline, “Arrive Before You Leave,” captured its ability to cross the Atlantic before passengers had technically departed. However, after its retirement in 2003, supersonic air travel seemed like a thing of the past—until now.
Boom Supersonic, a Denver-based start-up, is designing the next generation of supersonic passenger jets. The company’s new planes are expected to reach speeds of Mach 1.7—double the speed of the fastest commercial aircraft currently in service. Orders have already been secured from major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines, signaling a growing interest in the technology.
A major milestone was achieved just last week when Boom’s demonstrator aircraft, the XB-1, broke the sound barrier during three high-speed runs over California’s Mojave Desert. The achievement marks a significant step forward in the push to return supersonic jets to commercial service.
Mike Bannister, a former British Airways Concorde pilot, expressed his excitement at the sight of the XB-1 surging past Mach 1.1 (850 mph). He commented, “It’s absolutely amazing to see a supersonic aircraft flying again. The industry has gone backwards since Concorde stopped, but we’re now on a strong pathway to bringing a supersonic airliner back into service.”
Boom Supersonic’s founder, Blake Scholl, remains undeterred by the challenges that lay ahead. He emphasizes that, despite climate concerns, there is a significant demand for faster air travel. According to Scholl, 97% of passengers express interest in supersonic flights if they are safe, affordable, and sustainable. Scholl also believes that the concept of supersonic travel remains a dream worth pursuing, stating, “We should make flying better. We should make it faster. We should make it more sustainable.”
The main challenge for Concorde was its exorbitant cost—adjusted for inflation, a ticket could reach up to £20,000. Tragically, a crash in 2000 and the 9/11 attacks further undermined demand, sealing the jet’s fate. But Scholl is optimistic about the new generation of supersonic aircraft, noting that Boom’s Overture plane will cost only about £5,000 for a round trip, making it far more accessible than its predecessor. The Overture, with a price tag of approximately £200 million, will carry around 65 passengers and is set to begin deliveries in 2029.
When operational, the Overture will cut transatlantic flight times in half, offering flights from London to New York in just three and a half hours, compared to the current seven-hour journey. The plane will also reduce the travel time between Paris and New York to about four hours, while a London to Miami route will be cut from nine and a half hours to less than five.
Boom’s Overture will only reach supersonic speeds over oceans, which will allow the aircraft to operate on about 600 routes worldwide. However, there are still hurdles ahead. A rival company, Aerion Supersonic, collapsed in 2021 after major backers like Boeing and General Electric withdrew their support, a cautionary tale for Boom’s ambitious plans. Scholl remains realistic about the challenges, admitting that success is not guaranteed, but he remains hopeful.
As Scholl put it, “What we’ve set out to do here is not for the faint of heart. A lot of people said we would definitely fail, and we still could fail. But I think what we demonstrated last week is that we could also succeed.”
