American Airlines to Buy 20 Supersonic Passenger Jets

American Airlines has entered into an agreement with Boom Supersonic to purchase 20 Overture supersonic jets that will be able to fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.7 (about 1,975 km/h). The aircraft are expected to have a range of more than 7,870 km. They will be able to carry 65 to 80 passengers from Paris to Montreal (5,500 km) in 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Under the agreement between the companies, Boom Supersonic must prove that the Overture meets all safety standards and stated flight characteristics before delivery begins. In addition to the 20 aircraft, American Airlines may purchase a further 40 in the future.

The Boom Supersonic Overture will have a tapered fuselage. This will lower the drag coefficient and optimize fuel consumption. The Overture's four engines will provide speeds up to Mach 1.7 over water, especially over oceans. Over land, it will fly at speeds just below the speed of sound because of US Federal Aviation Administration requirements - flights above Mach 1 are accompanied by sonic booms that disturb the population.

Although the agreement is in place, the Boom Supersonic Overture is still undergoing pre-flight tests and is not yet ready for commercial operation. The company hopes to begin production of the Overture by 2024, with its first flight due in 2026. Another supersonic aircraft, the Boom Supersonic XB-1, designed to demonstrate the technology's capabilities, is due to take off at the end of 2022.