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United Airlines will put supersonic planes in the skies by 2029

The airline said it bought 15 supersonic planes from startup Boom Supersonic, and hopes to put them into service by the end of the decade.

Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.
Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Sean Szymkowski
Kent German
2 min read
United Boom Supersonic plane

It's a seriously cool looking plane.

Boom Supersonic

United Airlines is ready for the Concorde 2.0, but this time, it wants supersonic flight to stick around for good. This Thursday, United and Denver-based startup Boom Supersonic announced the company will purchase 15 new supersonic aircraft. About 40 years after the Concorde, it looks like incredibly fast air travel is ready for a comeback.

This time, Boom promises major changes to make supersonic air travel sustainable and permanent. The company said its Overture aircraft is designed to be carbon-neutral from Day 1. The plan is to run the aircraft on 100% sustainable aviation fuel, which will take the plane to speeds of Mach 1.7 and heights of 60,000 feet in the air. With specs like that, travel times condense dramatically.

United Boom Supersonic plane

All aboard.

Boom Supersonic

The company estimates a flight aboard the Boom Overture from Newark to London will take just three-and-a-half hours. San Francisco to Tokyo happens in an estimated six hours. Overall, the company said its plane can shave off half the flying time for 500 routes traveled around the world. 

Also, while Concorde was not known for a spacious cabin (despite the generous pours of onboard champagne), the Overture's promises tons of space for 65 to 88 passengers, contactless technology and plenty of onboard entertainment. In other words, it's an all first-class aircraft.

The plane that could fly you faster than ever

See all photos

In October Boom introduced its XB-1 demonstration, which will test much of the technology planned for the Overture. Test flights of the XB-1 are to begin next year over California's Mojave Desert. 

Before it can fly

Big hurdles to actual revenue service remain, though. First, the cost of all of this technology and innovation will have to come way down to make supersonic ticket prices accessible for more than just the super-wealthy that could afford the Concorde. The Federal Aviation Administration and other aviation safety agencies also will have to certify the Overture before it can carry passengers.

Just as important, sonic booms are still illegal or severely restricted over most countries, a big factor that limited the Concorde's routes and its appeal to airlines. If Boom hopes to fly transcontinental routes -- it says it's focusing on overwater routes -- it'll need to have those bans modified or overturned (Lockheed, in partnership with NASA, is currently developing quieter sonic boom technology). 

United plans to work with Boom to accelerate development of the Overture and the sustainable fuel it plans to run. If the two stick to the plan, we'll see a final plane ready in 2025 and a first full flight in 2026. In 2029, United wants to welcome the first passengers aboard the supersonic, friendly skies.