Fort Worth-Based American Airlines Orders Up to 20 Boom Supersonic Aircraft

Nearly 30 years after the last Concorde flight, American Airlines is betting on a supersonic future. The Fort Worth-based airline has ordered up to 20 Boom Supersonic Overture aircraft, with an option to order up to 40 more. But don't book your flight yet: Denver-based Boom doesn't expect to roll its first Overture off the production line until 2025, and the first passenger flights are slated for 2029.

When they do take flight, the Overtures are expected to fly up to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 over water, reaching destinations in as little as half the time of subsonic airliners.

There’s fast. Then there’s faster. Boom Supersonic’s Overture airliner is expected to fly at twice the speed of today’s subsonic commercial jets, flying at Mach 1.7 over water with a capacity for up to 80 passengers. The company got a boost today with the announcement that Fort Worth-based American Airlines has agreed to purchase up to 20 Overtures, with an option for an additional 40 more.

Nearly 30 years after the supersonic Concorde’s last flight, the agreement would give American the world’s largest supersonic passenger fleet. But don’t book your flight yet: the first Overture isn’t scheduled to roll off the production line until 2025, and its first passenger flight isn’t expected until 2029.

Under the terms of the agreement, before American can take delivery Boom must meet industry-standard operating, performance, and safety requirements along with other American conditions. American paid a non-refundable deposit for the 20 aircraft, the companies said.

“Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers,” American’s CFO Derek Kerr said in a statement. “We’re excited about how Boom will shape the future of travel both for our company and our customers.”

Designed to fly more than 600 routes in as little as half the time

With a range of 4,250 nautical miles, Boom’s Overture is “optimized for speed, safety ,and sustainability,” the company says. The aircraft is being designed to fly “more than 600 routes around the world in as little as half the time”—flying from Miami to London in just under five hours, and Los Angeles to Honolulu in three hours.

The aircraft is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Boom says.

“We’re proud to share our vision of a more connected and sustainable world with American Airlines,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom. “We believe Overture can help American deepen its competitive advantage on network, loyalty and overall airline preference through the paradigm-changing benefits of cutting travel times in half.”

Boom is based in Denver, has 130 Overture purchases on its order book

Denver-based Boom Supersonic says its order book currently stands at 130 aircraft, with United Airlines and Japan Airlines also among its customers.

Boom is working with Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman for government and defense applications of Overture. Boom’s suppliers and partners on the Overture program include Collins Aerospace, Eaton, Safran Landing Systems, Rolls-Royce, the United States Air Force, American Express, Climeworks, and AWS.