United to fly supersonic in 2029

If you were convinced that the end of Concorde meant the end of supersonic flight, you’ll be pleased to hear that United is planning to fly planes above the speed of sound again in 2029.

United orders 15 Overtures from Boom Supersonic

The American airline announced that it had placed an order with Boom Supersonic for 15 units of its Overture model, plus options for a further 35 aircraft.

Boom Supersonic, like other new manufacturers, aims to revolutionize air transport by making supersonic flight economically viable, and by offering the first aircraft designed to be CO2-neutral from the outset.

The Overture is expected to fly at Mach 1.7 (Mach 2.02 for Concorde), carrying between 55 and 88 passengers at an altitude of 60,000 feet (18,000m) in ultra-modern comfort. Its range will be 7,800 km (6,200 for Concorde).

In terms of environment, Boom Supersonic has announced that the Overture will be the first aircraft designed to be carbon-neutral from the outset, using 100% sustainable fuel. It will therefore make a major contribution to United’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Is the new-generation supersonic credible?

At this stage, it’s fair to ask how credible all this is, especially with the promise of first commercial flights in 2029.

The only certainty we have is that the XB-1, which is none other than the Overture demonstrator, was unveiled in autumn 2020 and is due to make its maiden flight this year.

The final model is scheduled to fly in 2026, and enter commercial service by 2029.

In the meantime, many challenges lie ahead.

The first of these is technological, and concerns the possibility of flying on 100% sustainable fuel (SAF for Sustainable Aviation Fuel). To date, no aircraft has been certified for this purpose.

Then there are the regulatory considerations. Today, supersonic flight over the US territory is forbidden, and noise regulations prohibit this type of aircraft from accessing many US airports.

This is a real challenge for United, which would only be able to operate the Overture from airports close to the coast, so that it can be at maximum speed for as long as possible. As transpacific routes are forbidden to it due to its autonomy, this leaves only transatlantic routes from Newark or Washington (if we refer to United’s hubs).

On the other hand, it’s well known that the regulations in question were enacted at the time more to thwart Concorde than anything else. For an American aircraft flying under an American flag, things could change. And there’s nothing to say that, at low speeds, the Overture will be noisier than current aircraft. Progress has been made since Concorde in this area.

A stroke of genius or a publicity stunt?

There are still many questions to be answered before United can consider relaunching commercial supersonic flights.

It’s highly likely that Overture will become a reality. The fact that it could be economically profitable for an airline is, once again, largely conceivable, thanks to the progress made since the 1960s. Obtaining all the necessary certifications and authorizations won’t be easy, but with political will it could happen.

Ordering 15 Overture United says it’s more of a challenge than a risk, and that’s what it’s all about. If the Overture lives up to its promise, United will have achieved an incredible feat, with the most environment-friendly aircraft on the market today. Otherwise, the project will fail, United won’t buy the planes, and the issue will be settled. In the meantime, United will have made some buzz.