- United Airlines said Thursday that it would purchase 15 supersonic aircraft, cutting long-distance travel times in half
- United announced it will add the Overture passenger planes from Denver-based Boom Supersonic to its fleet
- The supersonic planes are designed to fly at speeds greater than Mach 2, which would be twice the speed of the fastest airliners in service today
CHICAGO, Illinois: United Airlines said Thursday that it would purchase 15 supersonic aircraft, cutting long-distance travel times in half.
United announced it will add the Overture passenger planes from Denver-based Boom Supersonic to its fleet.
The supersonic planes are designed to fly at speeds greater than Mach 2, which would be twice the speed of the fastest airliners in service today.
United has said it will purchase 15 supersonic planes.
“Overture meets United’s demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements,” United Airlines said in a statement.
Boom’s Overture planes will begin flying in 2026 and be available for passenger service by 2029.
“Today’s advancements in technology are making it more viable … to include supersonic planes,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement, adding that the new aircraft will give travelers a “stellar flight experience.”
Boom unveiled the design of the Overture aircraft six years ago, saying it would carry 55 passengers.
As of 2018, Boom had received 100 pre-orders for supersonic aircraft.
United also issued a statement about the supersonic plane’s impact on the environment, noting, “Once operational, Overture is expected to be the first large commercial aircraft to be net-zero carbon from day one, optimized to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel.”
