In an unexpected move, American Airlines announced today that has signed an agreement with Boom Supersonic for up to 20 Overture aircraft, plus 40 options. The carrier made a non-refundable deposit for those initial aircraft, which represents a big endorsement for a project that has recently revealed a major redesign and has not reached to this date any agreement for a working engine.
The deal has similar provisions than the one Boom Supersonic signed with United: despite the down payment, there is still a chance for those Overtures not to see the day of light. «Under the terms of the agreement, Boom must meet industry-standard operating, performance and safety requirements as well as American’s other customary conditions before delivery of any Overtures», the statement reads.
“Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers,” said Derek Kerr, American’s Chief Financial Officer. “We are excited about how Boom will shape the future of travel both for our company and our customers.”
Another hurdle is where the Overture will be allowed to fly, as it won’t be able to perform continental flights. The aircraft is being designed to carry 65 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 over water — or twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft — with a range of 4,250 nautical miles, and its natural environment appears to be the Europe-America market and the Los Angeles-Hawaii route.
“We are proud to share our vision of a more connected and sustainable world with American Airlines,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom. “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.”
In July, Boom revealed the final production design of Overture, which is slated to roll out in 2025 and carry its first passengers by 2029. While there are significant milestones to reach before that date, American Airlines is seeing an opportunity and is thinking that it is better not to be left out.
