Airline Giant United Airlines Revives Sonic Skies with Supersonic Flight Technology
Boom Supersonic's Overture: The Next-Generation Supersonic Airliner
Boom Supersonic's Overture is making significant strides in the aviation industry, with the supersonic demonstrator, the XB-1, successfully breaking the sound barrier in January 2025 [1][4]. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2029, offering a faster, more efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to the iconic Concorde.
The Overture is designed to fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.7 (approximately 1,451 mph or 2,334 km/h) over water, but it will cruise below Mach 1 over land to mitigate sonic booms [2]. This speed is slightly slower than the Concorde's Mach 2.04, but the Overture aims to make up for it with reduced fuel consumption and a more environmentally friendly design [1].
United Airlines, the first US airline to order the Overture, has placed an order for 15 aircraft, with a total value of approximately $3 billion [2]. The fixed part of this order consists of 15 aircraft, and the Overture's seating capacity varies between 65-88, depending on the airline's preference [2].
The Overture's ticket prices will be similar to a Business Class ticket on a standard passenger plane [2]. Its target routes include high business traveler concentrations such as New York - London, San Francisco - Tokyo, and Los Angeles - Sydney, promising to significantly reduce travel times. For instance, the flight time between New York and London will be reduced to three and a half hours [2].
The Overture's body length is 61 meters, and it has a range of 4,250 nautical miles [2]. The aircraft's body material and engine technology provide significant advantages over the Concorde, with the unit fuel consumption being 30% lower compared to the Concorde [1].
Engine testing for the Symphony propulsion system is scheduled to begin in early 2026, a critical step towards the aircraft's production readiness [1]. Although the exact delivery date for the Overture has not been officially announced, ongoing development suggests it is moving closer to entering production.
In the early stages of the project, Virgin Atlantic (UK) and Japan Airlines (Japan) had expressed interest in purchasing the same aircraft [3]. The Overture's cabin will be exclusively arranged in a Business Class style, offering passengers a comfortable and luxurious travel experience [2]. The Overture is scheduled to officially enter service in 2029 [2].
Despite the Overture project having lagged far behind its initial timeline, with the first test flight initially planned for 2020 and entry into service in 2023 revised to 2025 and 2029, respectively [3], the anticipation for this next-generation supersonic airliner continues to grow.
The Overture, designed by Boom Supersonic, promises to revolutionize the aerospace industry, targeting routes with high business traveler concentrations like New York - London, with a technology that aims to make up for its slightly slower speed compared to the Concorde with reduced fuel consumption and an eco-friendly design. United Airlines has shown confidence in this technology, ordering 15 Overture aircraft for a total value of approximately $3 billion, indicating significant investment in the finance sector.
