Photo: boomsupersonic.com
< p>The airline said in a statement: “In the future, supersonic flight will be an important part of our competitive advantage. Boom will definitely impact the future of travel for both our company and our customers.”
The final design of Boom Overture was recently announced at the Farnborough Air Show. The aircraft is expected to be able to carry between 65 and 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, 1.7 times the speed of sound, and will use sustainable jet fuel. An American Airlines press release mentioned supersonic flights between Miami and London — just under five hours, and Los Angeles and Honolulu — three hours.
American's order for the Overture comes just over a year after United Airlines announced a deal to buy up to 50 aircraft.
Remarkably, the Overture does not yet have the engine to propel the aircraft to supersonic speeds when burned environmentally friendly aviation fuel. Boom is partnering with Rolls-Royce on engine concepts, but the manufacturer's CEO Warren East recently told the media that no one at his company has yet started developing innovative powertrain models.
Despite these challenges, Boom sticks to his ambitious plans to build a jet aircraft. The aircraft is expected to go on sale in 2025, make its first flight in 2026, and carry its first passengers by 2029.
It is not known how much American's deposit for the aircraft was, but analysts say that the airline already the most deficient balance among all American carriers, and this deal will entail even greater disadvantages.