The dream of supersonic passenger travel is getting closer to reality, again. Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 aircraft has already broken the sound barrier in tests this year. Its full-sized Overture jet is scheduled to fly by 2028. And for the first time ever, U.S. lawmakers are considering lifting a ban on supersonic commercial flights over American soil.
If it works, the Overture could cut transatlantic flight times in half. London to New York in 3.5 hours. San Francisco to D.C. before dinner. But not everyone is cheering.
A Leap Forward—Or a Step Back?
Boom says Overture will be quieter than Concorde, more efficient, and available to high-end business travelers. “This is about deleting friction from global travel,” said Boom CEO Blake Scholl. “The tech is here, and so is the need.”
But others see risks. “It sounds amazing, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s Concorde all over again,” said Aaron Nguyen, 42, an engineer from Sydney. “Cool tech, limited appeal, and probably not worth the environmental cost.”
While Boom insists it can make this viable with a “Model S” approach—business class only, not economy—analysts say it’s not clear the market will bear the cost. Flights may cost 30 to 40% more than existing business-class fares. That could mean one-way tickets from New York to London topping $4,800.
“That’s more than a month’s rent,” said Jasmine Paredes, a creative director from Los Angeles. “I don’t care how fast it is, that’s a ‘rich people only’ thing.”
A New Sonic Footprint
Boom’s test flights have avoided creating disruptive booms by using a “Mach cutoff” approach. That’s where atmospheric conditions direct the sound away from the ground.
NASA’s X-59 is also pushing the boundary of low-boom flight, aiming to generate more of a sonic “thump.” Still, some remain skeptical.
“We’ve heard promises about ‘quiet booms’ before,” said Reggie Dalton, a high school science teacher in Oklahoma City. “Back in the ‘60s, sonic boom tests cracked windows and scared pets. People still remember.”
The FAA has been cautious, and rightly so, said Anna Lee, an aviation lawyer in London: “They’re not just worried about noise. These are experimental aircraft with huge unknowns—costs, fuel, safety, public backlash.”
Climate and Costs
The Overture is expected to burn two to five times more fuel per seat than today’s subsonic jets. That worries climate advocates.
“You’re building a new class of pollution for the benefit of a few travelers,” said Maxime Bouchet, a transportation researcher in Paris. “We should be going cleaner, not faster.”
Airlines have made non-binding agreements to buy Overtures—American, United, and Japan Airlines among them—but none have put down full capital commitments.
And Boom’s own funding, last disclosed at around $700–800 million, is far short of the $12–15 billion some analysts estimate is needed to launch.
“I want to believe in this,” said Thomas Keller, a pilot in Frankfurt. “But if Boeing is struggling with basic deliveries, how’s Boom supposed to build a fleet of supersonic jets from scratch?”
The Excitement Remains
Despite the skepticism, many people are still intrigued by the possibility of faster flight.
“If I could do Tokyo to San Francisco in under 6 hours, that would change my business entirely,” said Haruka Matsuda, a corporate strategist in Tokyo. “It’s not just about time saved—it’s about being human again after flying. Less jet lag, more life.”
“I’d pay once just to experience it,” said Marvin Choi, a music producer in Seoul. “Like, bucket list stuff. Just to say I flew supersonic.”
“I flew Concorde in the ‘90s. The sound, the service, the feeling—it was unforgettable,” said Eleanor Bishop, 69, a retired banker in New York. “If this new one can match that without the noise, they’ll have a fan in me.”
But she added, “It better be safe. No corners cut.”
