American Airlines Bets on Supersonic Jets

American Airlines on Tuesday announced plans to buy as many as 20 ultra-fast jets from Boom Supersonic, the second major U.S. carrier planning to add faster-than-sound-aircraft, to its fleet. Jetmaker Boom says its Overture planes are expected to carry passengers at twice the speed of the fastest commercial aircraft now flying. American said it made a non-refundable deposit on the initial 20 Overture jets, with the option to purchase 40 more. Last year, United Airlines agreed to buy 15 Boom Overture aircraft, once they met certain safety, operating, and sustainability requirements. However, Boom said the jet is not scheduled to roll out before 2025, and won't carry its first passengers before 2029. The era of regular commercial supersonic flights appeared to have ended in 2003, when Concorde—flown by Air France and British Airways—was retired after 27 years of service. The Allied Pilots Association (the labor union representing pilots of American Airlines) criticized the deal, saying the carrier should instead focus on reducing cancellations and delays, which have hit its operations this year.