NYC to London in 3.5 hours: United Airlines buys supersonic jets that could change travel forever

• United Airlines said it will buy 15 ultrafast jets from Boom Supersonic
• Some flight times could be cut in half
• “The Overture” airliner could change the way we travel for business and pleasure — but won’t debut until 2029

Imagine flying from New York to London in just three-and-a-half hours? That could soon be a possibility.

United Airlines announced that it is buying 15 supersonic jets from from start-up Boom Supersonic that could change the way people fly by cutting travel times in half and getting people to their destinations sooner than ever.

The airline announced Thursday that it would purchase Boom’s first commercial supersonic jet, the Overture, and targets getting passengers aboard the jet in 2029.

While the Overture hasn’t been built or certified yet, it’s an appetizing prospect that could change business and leisure travel forever.

“United continues on its trajectory to build a more innovative, sustainable airline and today’s advancements in technology are making it more viable for that to include supersonic planes,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said. “Boom’s vision for the future of commercial aviation, combined with the industry’s most robust route network in the world, will give business and leisure travelers access to a stellar flight experience. 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.”

United Airlines has an option to purchase 35 additional planes, according to the company, which could give it a fleet of 50 supersonic jets.

Video provided by United Airlines.

What Boom Supersonic’s ‘The Overture’ means for future travel

Dubbed the next-generation of travel, the Overture follows in the footsteps set by the Concorde, a supersonic passenger airliner that operated from 1976 and 2003.

The plane — which would have a passenger capacity of 65 to 88 — could fly at Mach 1.7, or 1.7 times the speed of sound (around 1,300 miles per hour), according to Boom. That means getting to destinations around the world just got cut in half. You won’t even have time to finish two in-flight movies on a trip to Europe.

Here’s what flight times could look like in 2029:

• Tokyo to Seattle: 4 hours and 30 minutes (8:30 currently).
• Paris to Montreal: 3 hours and 45 minutes (7:15 currently).
• Los Angeles to Sydney: 8 hours and 30 minutes (14:30 currently)
• New York to London: 3 hours and 30 minutes (6:30 currently).
• San Francisco to Tokyo: 6 hours (10:15 currently).
• Madrid to Boston: 3 hours and 30 minutes (7:30 currently).
• Tokyo to Seattle: 4 hours and 30 minutes (8:30 currently).

The Overture features a sleek design similar and flaunts an “all-business class” look, which would give travelers more room, personal windows, and direct aisle access.

More Boom Supersonic Stats

Boom Supersonic was founded in 2014. The Denver-based aviation start-up has raised $270 million in capital and currently has a workforce of 150 employees, according to CNBC.

The Overture is expected to be the first large commercial aircraft to be net-zero carbon, optimized to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Rollout is expected to start in 2025, with wheels up coming in 2026 before passengers could board by 2029.