UNITED Airlines announced plans yesterday to buy 15 planes from airline startup Boom Supersonic in a move that could revive the high-speed form of air travel.
Under the commercial agreement, United would purchase Boom's "Overture" aircraft once the planes meet "United's demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements" with an aim to start passenger travel in 2029, the companies said in a joint press release.
The agreement covers 15 planes and includes an option for United to obtain another 35 aircraft. The companies did not disclose financial terms.
Boom's plane is capable of flying at twice the speed of leading aircraft now on the market, with the potential to fly from Newark to London in three and a half hours and San Francisco to Tokyo in six hours, the companies said.
The jets will also be "net-zero" in carbon use because they will employ renewable fuel.
Commercial supersonic jet travel was introduced in the 1970s with the Concorde, but the jets were retired in 2003 due in part to the high cost of meeting environmental restrictions on sonic booms.
The Concorde's demise also followed a 2000 Air France accident that killed 113 people.
However, the technology is getting another look today as companies in the United States and abroad develop planes with lighter and more efficient composite materials and new engine designs, according to a fact sheet from the Federal Aviation Administration.
"Our mission has always been about connecting people and now working with Boom, we'll be able to do that on an even greater scale," said United Chief Executive Scott Kirby.
Founded in 2014, Denver-based Boom Supersonic said it is also working with the United States Air Force on a military version of the Overture.
Jon Ostrower, editor of the aviation publication the Air Current, said on Twitter that United's order marked a shift in a long-term industry trend.
"The last time United ordered supersonic aircraft, humans had yet to walk on the Moon," Ostrower said. "More than a half century later, United is again focusing on speed, bucking the most consistent airline trend over the past 50 years: a desire to fly cheaper, not faster."
ETX Studio
Fri Jun 04 2021
Boom's Overture plane is capable of flying at twice the speed of leading aircraft now on the market. ETXStudiopic
PM ingatkan tidak buat tohmahan, fitnah sesuka hati
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim juga mengingatkan pihak-pihak ini untuk tidak menyebarkan kenyataan yang tidak berasas.
AWANI Ringkas: Gaji dan elaun penjawat awam lebih RM2,000
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Laporan Bank Dunia: Puad cabar Fadhlina bermalam di rumah panjang, rasai kesukaran belajar di pedalaman
Puad Zakarshi mencabar Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek untuk bermalam di rumah panjang bagi merasai sendiri kepayahan pelajar untuk mendapatkan pendidikan
Operasi darat Israel di Rafah akan cetus bencana kemanusiaan - WHO
Netanyahu berikrar pada Selasa, untuk menyerang Rafah, walaupun terdapat laporan kemungkinan perjanjian gencatan senjata dengan Hamas.
MoT pantau rapi situasi letusan Gunung Ruang - Loke
Setakat ini letusan gunung berapi berkenaan telah menjejaskan sedikit ruang udara di Tawau, Sabah menyebabkan beberapa penerbangan ke daerah itu terpaksa dilencongkan.
SPRM Kelantan tahan pegawai kanan KADA buat tuntutan palsu
Lelaki berusia 40-an itu ditahan pada 9.30 malam tadi selepas dipanggil ke pejabat SPRM untuk diambil keterangan.
Letusan Gunung Ruang: Malaysia Airlines sambung semula beberapa penerbangan ke Sabah, Labuan
Penerbangan yang terlibat ialah MH2660D (KUL-TWU) yang pada awalnya MH2660, serta MH2661D (TWU-KUL), pada mulanya MH2661.
SPRM tahan CEO syarikat pembekalan air, pemilik syarikat
Kedua-dua lelaki berusia 38 dan 35 tahun itu ditahan di pejabat SPRM Selangor kira-kira pukul 4 petang semalam bagi membantu siasatan.
Menteri Kabinet zahir penghargaan kepada warga pekerja
Hari Pekerja disambut pada 1 Mei setiap tahun bagi meraikan sumbangan warga pekerja dengan sambutan tahun ini yang bertemakan 'Pekerja Kesuma Bangsa'.
Bayi maut disyaki akibat didera, polis tahan empat individu
Polis menahan empat individu di sekitar sini yang disyaki terlibat dalam kes kematian seorang bayi perempuan berumur sembilan bulan di Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), dipercayai akibat didera, minggu lalu.
Pesawat prototaip Boom Supersonic XB-1 lakukan penerbangan pertama
Pesawat prototaip dengan tiga enjin ini akan menjadi asas kepada pesawat penumpang supersonik Overture yang mampu membawa sehingga 80 penumpang pada kelajuan Mach 1.7.