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United goes supersonic

US airline United has announced plans to buy 15 new supersonic airliners and "return supersonic speeds to aviation" in the year 2029. Supersonic passenger flights ended in 2003 when Air France and British Airways retired Concorde. The new Overture aircraft will be produced by a Denver-based company called Boom, which has yet to flight-test a supersonic jet. United's deal is conditional on the new aircraft meeting safety standards. Boom says Overture would be able to make the New York to London trip in 3.5 hours, shaving three hours off the flight. Concorde, which entered passenger service in 1976, was even faster. Up to 88 passengers will fly in Overture in a 1-1 all-business class configuration. Overture aims to also fly above traditional aircraft at a cruising altitude of 60.000 feet. No current commercial aircraft can access that height. Overture, in its service for United, will be net-zero carbon and be powered by sustainable aviation fuel. United's sustainability efforts include a plan to become "100% green by 2050 by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 100%". But making Overture mainstream would require an expansion of a sustainable aviation fuel infrastructure as the biofuels are currently limited to certain airports. A total of 15 aircraft to be purchased were outlined in the agreement with options for 35 more if United desires. A single model costs $200 million, making the deal worth $3 billion. The deal is not yet set in stone. Boom will have to meet "United's demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements". Overture is expected to debut in 2025 with its first flight planned for 2026. The first passengers are expected to fly on Overture in 2029, truly marking the beginning of a new era for supersonic travel. The development of the Overture is currently in the prototype phase. Boom rolled out the XB-1 in October with plans to fly the aircraft from a base in Mojave, California later in 2021. United isn't the only airline interested in Overture, however. Japan Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways are both investors in Boom with pre-orders for the aircraft.
Source: BBC

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