American Airlines To Add Supersonic Jets To Its Commercial Fleet

Trailing in the flight path of United Airlines, American Airlines has now agreed to purchase 20 supersonic jets from Boom, becoming the country’s second airliner to add supersonic speed to its fleet. 

This partnership with Boom is likely to give American Airlines’ aircraft a much-needed speed boost, which the press release already claims is the country’s “simple, youngest, and most efficient.” 

“Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers. We are excited about how Boom will shape the future both for our company and our customers,” remarks Derek Kerr, American’s Chief Financial Officer. 

The supersonic aircraft—dubbed Overture—will be able to carry 65 to 80 passengers at a speed of Mach 1.7, or twice that of the fastest commercial plane today. 

The aircraft can hit the miles too, designed to fly over 600 routes around the world in what would take as little as half the time of a typical flight.

For example, the company expects the trip from Miami to London to be under five hours, and Los Angeles to Honolulu is just three.

The Overtures are scheduled to start ferrying passengers by 2029, so stay tuned.

[via CNN and American Airlines, cover image via American Airlines]