Boom Supersonic CEO Bets on 2029 for New York to London in 3 Hours

(NEW YORK) Boom Supersonic is pushing the return of faster-than-sound passenger travel into focus, telling customers and investors it can carry people between New York and London in about 3 to 3.5 hours by 2029. That target looks more realistic after a set of major steps in 2025: an executive order in June that cleared a path for civilian supersonic flights over land in the United States for the first time in five decades, a string of successful test flights by the company’s XB-1 demonstrator, and new production capacity coming online at its North Carolina “Superfactory.”

The company’s planned jet, called Overture, has purchase agreements from United, American, and Japan Airlines, and is marketed at business-class prices rather than the sky-high fares that sank the Concorde two decades ago.

Timeline and near-term milestones

Boom’s current plan sets a busy schedule:

1. Complete Overture prototype assembly (late 2025).
2. Conduct initial flight tests (2026–2027).
3. Achieve FAA/EASA certification (2027–2028).
4. Begin commercial production at Greensboro Superfactory (2028).
5. Launch first passenger flights (target: 2029).

Boom says it will roll out the first Overture prototype in late 2025, fly it in 2026, and spend 2026–2028 working through flight tests and certification with U.S. and European regulators. The final step is commercial service in 2029, with New York at the center of the company’s first transatlantic routes.

If that timeline holds, travelers could see the first wave of faster, long-haul schedules that cut hours off today’s flights.

Policy breakthrough and regulatory path

June’s policy move was the breakthrough companies like Boom had waited for. A U.S. ban on civilian supersonic flight over land, in place since 1973, limited the business case for any jet that could not cross states at speed. The June 2025 executive order allows overland routes as long as operators prove that their flights will not harm communities with loud booms.

• The burden now falls on aircraft makers and airlines to demonstrate noise mitigation through design and flight planning.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is updating standards for this new class of aircraft; rulemaking and public input will shape where and how Overture could fly in the United States.
• The FAA’s process details are available on the Federal Aviation Administration supersonic policy page: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/supersonic.

Test program progress and tech validation

Boom’s early 2025 test program has given industry observers measurable milestones. In January, the XB-1 demonstrator broke the sound barrier at about Mach 1.1, and by July it had completed at least 13 test flights.

• Company engineers say those flights confirmed core parts of Overture’s design: aerodynamics, modern composites, and control systems that handle high temperatures and speeds.
• The challenge now is scaling that success to the larger, passenger-ready Overture airframe.

Overture’s key specifications and commercial pitch

Boom’s strategy leans on two themes: better technology and a path to pricing that more travelers can accept.

• Cruise speed: up to Mach 1.7 (about 1,120 mph).
• Range: about 4,900 miles, enough for New York–London and several transpacific pairs.
• Cabin: 64–80 passengers.
• Target one-way fare (New York–London): about $1,700, aiming at the business-class bracket.

For comparison, the Concorde often sold round-trip tickets above $9,000, a price point that restricted demand.

Manufacturing: the Greensboro “Superfactory”

Production plans are unusually ambitious for a startup:

• The Greensboro Superfactory, finished in June 2024, is active and the company says it could build up to 66 Overture aircraft per year at peak.
• That scale would take time to reach but indicates Boom’s intent to supply sizeable airline fleets rather than a handful of boutique jets.
• Airlines that signed purchase agreements will watch whether the factory hits early milestones; production ramp and supplier management will be critical.

Noise, public acceptance, and NASA’s role

Noise concerns are a central constraint on supersonic expansion.

• Boom promotes a “Boomless Cruise” concept—flying around Mach 1.1–1.2 at certain altitudes to bend shock waves upward so they don’t reach the ground as classic sonic booms.
• Even so, supersonic aircraft are expected to be louder than subsonic jets, especially at takeoff and landing:
  • Estimated: about 25% more noise per flight and up to 6 times more noise per seat on departure and arrival compared with typical airliners.

Public acceptance is the Achilles’ heel: Concorde faced protests and legal fights. NASA’s X-59 program is collecting human response data on shaped shock waves (which might sound more like a “thump” than a “boom”) to inform regulators in the FAA and Europe’s EASA.

This research matters: regulators will rely on objective evidence of how people perceive such sounds when setting new noise standards.

Commercial economics and industry views

The business case balances speed against cost:

• Pros:
  • Time savings for business travelers could justify $1,700 one-way fares.
  • Same-day international travel possibilities could generate new demand and different revenue models.
• Cons:
  • High upfront aircraft costs, smaller cabin counts (64–80 seats), and increased fuel burn at high speeds could squeeze profitability.
  • Skeptics such as Delta CEO Ed Bastian warn the asset price and limited seats may make it hard to earn returns.

Support from United, American, and Japan Airlines lends credibility, but industry opinion remains split.

Operational and airport impacts

If supersonic operations begin in 2029, airports and planners will need to adapt:

• Review gate and runway scheduling so fast aircraft fit with slower traffic.
• Update noise abatement procedures and local rules where necessary.
• Train staff, plan maintenance, and integrate spare parts and engine services.
• Expect more detailed community engagement—meetings, charts of expected noise footprints, and public hearings.

What will be proven in the 2026–2028 test window

The 2026–2028 period is critical for:

• Proving “Boomless Cruise” under varying weather and traffic conditions.
• Demonstrating consistent manufacturing quality and supplier performance at Greensboro.
• Collecting noise and performance data for regulators (FAA/EASA) and NASA’s research.
• Securing international harmonization so Overture can operate across borders.

Potential traveler impacts

If Overture meets its targets, the customer experience could change materially:

• Business travelers might complete same-day New York–London round trips.
• Families and non-business travelers could opt for daytime long-haul flights instead of overnight ones.
• Some passengers may still prefer cheaper subsonic options, especially if they value sleep over time savings.

Airlines will test pricing, loyalty program incentives, and corporate deals to see what mix fills a smaller-cabin premium jet repeatedly.

Risks and the longer view

Key risks that could delay or undermine the plan:

• Adverse test results or additional certification requirements.
• Supply-chain disruptions or manufacturing teething problems.
• Strong public opposition based on noise or environmental concerns.
• Regulatory misalignment across major markets.

If these risks materialize, airlines may delay or scale back orders, and airports could defer infrastructure changes.

Final assessment and where to follow updates

For now, Boom Supersonic has four major assets it lacked a year ago:

• A policy opening in the United States (June 2025 executive order).
• A demonstrator that has gone supersonic (XB-1).
• A factory ready to build (Greensboro Superfactory).
• Airline customers publicly committed.

The next 18–24 months—prototype rollout in late 2025, first flight in 2026, and a heavy test schedule after that—will show whether Overture can meet the mix of public, regulatory, and commercial demands.

For ongoing details and primary sources:

• FAA’s supersonic policy page: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/supersonic
• Boom Supersonic program updates and specs: https://boomsupersonic.com

The path is both exciting and demanding: cutting hours off long-haul trips while meeting strict standards on safety, noise, and community impact will determine whether supersonic passenger travel returns as a mainstream option or remains a niche service.