US major could acquire up to 60 supersonic airliners under new purchase agreement.
American Airlines has announced an agreement with Boom Supersonic to purchase up to 20 Overture aircraft with options for a further 40.
The Dallas/Fort Worth-based carrier confirmed today (August 16) that it has paid a non-refundable deposit for the first 20 examples, but noted under the terms of the agreement that Boom “must meet industry-standard operating, performance and safety requirements in addition to other customary conditions from American Airlines.”
Commenting on the deal, the carrier’s chief financial officer, Derek Kerr, said supersonic travel “will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers.”
Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom, added: “We are proud to share our vision of a more connected and sustainable world with American Airlines. We believe Overture can help American deepen its competitive advantage on network, loyalty and overall airline preference through the paradigm-changing benefits of cutting travel times in half.”
The manufacturer claims the Overture, which is mooted for roll out in 2025, will carry 65-80 passengers over a range of 4,250nm at Mach 1.7 over water. This, it notes, could reduce flying times on routes such as Miami-London and Los Angeles-Honolulu to under five and three hours respectively.
