Supersonic Passenger Jets Return to Spotlight With New Developments

Efforts to revive supersonic passenger travel have gained momentum, with new test flights and technological advances following the retirement of Concorde in 2003.

Concorde, which entered commercial service in January 1976, was operated by British Airways and Air France on transatlantic routes. The aircraft cruised at speeds exceeding Mach 2, reducing flight times between Europe and North America to about three hours. Its final commercial flight took place in October 2003, marking the end of regular supersonic passenger service.

Recent years have seen renewed activity in supersonic aviation, led by private companies and government agencies. Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator, a scaled prototype of the planned Overture airliner, achieved supersonic speeds during test flights over California in early 2025. This marked the first privately developed aircraft to break the sound barrier since Concorde.

Boom Supersonic has also announced the development of “Boomless Cruise” technology, which is designed to allow supersonic travel without producing an audible sonic boom at ground level. The company’s commercial airliner, Overture, is planned to carry between 64 and 80 passengers at speeds up to Mach 1.7, with a target introduction around 2029.

What the numbers show

• Concorde’s first commercial flights began on 21 January 1976
• Boom’s XB-1 reached Mach 1.1 in early 2025
• COMAC’s C949 is projected to fly at Mach 1.6 with 50% greater range than Concorde

In addition to private sector initiatives, government-backed projects are also underway. NASA’s X-59 QueSST, developed with Lockheed Martin, began flight testing in late October 2025. The program is focused on demonstrating low-boom supersonic flight, which could address regulatory concerns about noise.

China’s COMAC is working on the C949, a supersonic passenger jet projected to reach Mach 1.6 and offer a range exceeding Concorde’s by 50 percent. However, this aircraft is not expected to enter service until around 2049.

Supersonic aviation is now being pursued with new technologies aimed at overcoming past challenges, such as sonic boom noise and fuel efficiency. The timeline for commercial introduction varies, with some projects targeting the end of this decade and others looking further ahead.

While Concorde’s legacy continues to influence current developments, the new generation of supersonic aircraft is being designed with updated performance goals and environmental considerations. Ongoing flight tests and prototype demonstrations are shaping the next phase of high-speed passenger travel.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.