United has become the first US airline to sign aircraft purchase agreement with Boom Supersonic. As part of the agreement, United will purchase 15 of Boom’s Overture airliners, provided that they meet the airline’s safety, operating and sustainability requirements, with an option to purchase 35 more aircraft.
Boom intends to roll out its super-sonic passenger jets in 2025, with plans to begin commercial flights in 2029. Once operational, Overture is expected to be the first large commercial aircraft to be net-zero carbon from day one, optimised to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). United and Boom will also work together to accelerate production of greater supplies of SAF.
Capable of flying at speeds of Mach 1.7 – twice the speed of today’s fastest airliners – Overture can connect more than 500 destinations in nearly half the time. Among the potential routes on United’s agenda are Newark to London in just three and a half hours, Newark to Frankfurt in four hours and San Francisco to Tokyo in just six hours.
Overture will also be designed with features such as in-seat entertainment screens, ample personal space, and contactless technology.
The partnership with Boom forms part of the carrier’s strategy to invest in innovative technologies that will build a more sustainable future of air travel.
“United continues on its trajectory to build a more innovative, sustainable airline and today’s advancements in technology are making it more viable for that to include supersonic planes,” commented CEO Scott Kirby. “Boom’s vision for the future of commercial aviation, combined with the industry’s most robust route network in the world, will give business and leisure travellers access to a stellar flight experience. Our mission has always been about connecting people and now working with Boom, we’ll be able to do that on an even greater scale.”
Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO, Boom Supersonic, added: “The world’s first order of net-zero carbon supersonic aircraft marks a significant step toward our mission to create a more accessible world. At speeds twice as fast, United passengers will experience all the advantages of life lived in person, from deeper, more productive business relationships to longer, more relaxing vacations to far-off destinations.”
Learn more about United’s environmental commitment from Scott Kirby’s recent interview with Shashank Nigam, Founder & CEO, SimpliFlying, which took place during FTE APEX Virtual Expo 2021. Click here to watch the full interview, which will be available until 25 June.
