United Airlines has put in an order for Boom Supersonic’s Overture airliner.

There has never been a meaningful Supersonic Transport (SST) that has entered service without billions in public subsidies, so I do not expect this aircraft to see service. 

The financial numbers are just not there, as shown by the recent demise of the Aerion supersonic business jet.

I don’t know why United put in an order, but I don’t ever expect them to actually fly the aircraft:

More than half a century after placing options for the European-made Concorde, United Airlines is once again banking on the commercial allure of speed by becoming the first operator to order its spiritual successor—Boom Supersonic’s Overture.

United never flew the Concorde.

The startling deal, which covers orders for 15 aircraft with options on a further 35, is a key milestone toward the revival of faster-than-sound commercial transport and a major boost for the Denver-based startup aircraft manufacturer.

………

The United deal envisages introduction of the first civil supersonic services on transatlantic and Pacific routes by 2029. The Overture will be designed to cruise at Mach 1.7 [Down from earlier goal of Mach 2.2] and carry up to 88 passengers on routes up to 4,250 nm using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Note that, much like the Concorde, this jet cannot operate at supersonic speeds over land, and even if it uses “Sustainable” fuel, a subsonic airliner will carry more 2 to 3 times people on a gallon of fuel.

The numbers just don’t add up.