Although supersonic travel sounds futuristic, it has a real history. In the 1960s the Concorde flew at roughly 1,354 mph (Mach 2.02), more than twice the speed of conventional airliners. That enabled the aircraft to carry about 100 passengers from New York (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) in roughly three hours and 20 minutes.
Supersonic service was always a premium experience and therefore expensive. By 2003, Concorde fares had climbed above $9,000, a price that became unsustainable for many travelers and for airlines. As a result, Concorde was retired from commercial service in 2003.
Today, entrepreneur Blake Scholl and his company Boom are attempting to revive supersonic passenger flight with modern technology and efficiency improvements. Their goal is to operate a commercial supersonic jet capable of flying from JFK to London in under three hours. The company has developed a demonstrator aircraft called Baby Boom, planned to conduct test flights in the near future.
Because of concerns about sonic booms, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration maintains speed restrictions over land that effectively limit supersonic flight routes. For that reason, initial operations for new supersonic airliners are expected to focus on transoceanic routes, where noise impacts on populated areas are minimized.
New efforts in materials, aerodynamics, and engine design aim to make next-generation supersonic aircraft quieter, more fuel-efficient, and more cost-effective than their predecessors. If successful, these advances could significantly reduce transatlantic travel times while addressing the economic and environmental challenges that contributed to the Concorde’s retirement.