By William J. Furney
In the not-too-distant future, passengers may once again zip across the Atlantic in just a few hours, rekindling memories of the supersonic era defined by Concorde. Boom Supersonic, a US-based company, is leading the charge with its Boom Overture, a supersonic airliner set to debut by 2030.
The project promises to deliver commercial supersonic flight, reviving a dream that many believed died with Concorde’s last flight in 2003. With the recent success of its XB-1 demonstrator, which completed its fifth test flight in October 2024, the company is steadily moving toward making that dream a reality. But as Boom’s ambitions take flight, there are questions about the feasibility of supersonic passenger travel — particularly cost, environmental impact and technological challenges.
The Legacy of Supersonic Flight: Concorde’s Rise and Fall
For nearly three decades, Concorde represented the pinnacle of air travel. Its sleek, delta-wing design and blistering speed allowed it to fly passengers from New York to London in just over three hours, a record still unmatched by today’s commercial airliners, which take more than double the time to cross the Atlantic. But Concorde’s appeal was marred by its exorbitant costs and environmental concerns. Fuel consumption was massive — Concorde burned about 2 tonnes of fuel per passenger over a typical flight, compared to around 4 litres per passenger on a modern fuel-efficient aircraft.
Noise pollution also plagued Concorde’s operations. Its sonic booms limited its ability to fly at supersonic speeds over land, reducing its economic potential. Additionally, high ticket prices — up to £10,000 for a round-trip ticket — meant that only a small, wealthy segment of the population could afford to fly supersonic.
The final blow came in 2003, when economic pressures, coupled with a catastrophic crash in 2000, forced Concorde into retirement. The demise of the supersonic era left a void in the aviation industry; and for years, the notion of supersonic commercial flights seemed relegated to the annals of history.
Boom Overture: The New Frontier of Supersonic Travel
Fast forward to 2024, and Boom Supersonic is aiming to revive supersonic travel, albeit with significant improvements over its predecessors. Boom’s Overture, currently in development, promises to be a greener, more economically viable alternative to Concorde. According to Boom, the Overture will travel at Mach 1.7, significantly reducing flight times for long-haul routes such as New York to London (3.5 hours) and Tokyo to San Francisco (6 hours).
The Overture is designed to seat between 65 and 80 passengers, making it smaller than Concorde but more suited to current market demands. With a focus on premium business travel, Boom has already secured partnerships with major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines, which have placed orders for the aircraft. This interest indicates a potential demand for faster air travel in the post-pandemic world, where time efficiency has become a premium for business and leisure travelers alike.
The Overture’s development is supported by Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator, a one-third-scale model designed to test critical supersonic technologies. The XB-1 has now completed five test flights, gradually increasing its speed and altitude, with the goal of breaking the sound barrier in subsequent tests later this year.
Can Supersonic Travel Overcome Its Environmental Challenges?
One of the major criticisms of Concorde was its environmental impact. Supersonic flight requires more energy, and therefore more fuel, to overcome the increased drag at high speeds. This results in significantly higher emissions per passenger compared to subsonic flights. Given the current global push for sustainability in aviation, these concerns cannot be overlooked.
Boom Supersonic has made bold promises regarding the Overture’s environmental impact. The company aims to power the aircraft using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is derived from renewable resources such as biomass and waste oils. SAF has been touted as a potential solution for reducing aviation’s carbon footprint, as it produces up to 80% fewer carbon emissions over its lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel.
However, questions remain about whether SAF can truly offset the emissions of a supersonic aircraft. Supersonic jets, even with optimised engines and lightweight materials like carbon composites, still consume more fuel per kilometre than subsonic planes. The economics of SAF are also uncertain — production is currently limited, and costs are significantly higher than traditional fuels. Unless the production of SAF scales up rapidly, it may not be feasible to power an entire fleet of supersonic planes with sustainable fuel.
Noise and the Sonic Boom
Another hurdle for supersonic flight is the issue of noise, particularly sonic booms. When an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound, it creates a shockwave that is heard as a loud boom on the ground. This phenomenon led to strict regulations on where Concorde could fly at supersonic speeds, largely limiting it to oceanic routes.
Boom is working on minimising the impact of sonic booms through aerodynamic innovations, although it has not yet eliminated the problem entirely. The company is collaborating with regulators to develop noise standards that could allow supersonic jets to fly over land, but the discussions are still in their early stages.
The Cost Conundrum: Who Will Pay for Speed?
Cost remains a significant question for the viability of supersonic travel. While Boom has suggested that ticket prices for the Overture could be comparable to business class fares, many analysts remain sceptical. Operating costs for supersonic aircraft are inherently higher due to increased fuel consumption and the need for advanced materials and technologies.
Additionally, supersonic jets would likely face higher maintenance costs due to the stresses placed on the aircraft at high speeds. For airlines, this means that ticket prices would need to be high enough to cover these increased costs, but not so high that they deter passengers.
Despite these challenges, there is a market for premium air travel, particularly among business travellers willing to pay more for faster journeys. But for supersonic travel to succeed, Boom will need to strike a delicate balance between speed, cost and environmental sustainability.
Is Supersonic Flight Viable?
The successful test flights of Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator mark a significant step forward for supersonic travel, but there is still a long way to go before the Overture takes to the skies. Technological advancements, regulatory approval and the scaling of SAF production will all be critical factors in determining the success of Boom’s project.
Ultimately, while supersonic travel holds great promise for the future of aviation, it must overcome substantial hurdles related to cost and environmental impact. The world is watching closely as Boom pushes forward with its ambitious plans, hoping to avoid the pitfalls that led to Concorde’s downfall. If Boom can deliver on its promises of speed, sustainability and cost efficiency, the Overture could indeed herald the dawn of a new era in air travel. But the challenges ahead suggest that the journey to supersonic commercial flight is far from smooth.
* Image, of a Boom Overture prototype, courtesty of Boom Supersonic.