'World's Fastest Passenger Plane' Can Cut Travel Time By Half Using 100% Sustainable Fuel

A company claims its proposed supersonic passenger jet can halve flight times while using fuel that leaves a smaller carbon footprint.

Boom Technology promises that its in-development Overture airliner will be able to fly up to 80 passengers between destinations with a cruising speed of Mach 1.7 (1,304 miles per hour).

The Denver-based aerospace company described the aircraft as "the world's fastest airliner," but two of Overture's predecessors — the Aérospatiale/British Aircraft Corporation Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144 — were able to achieve a cruising speed of Mach 2 (1,355 miles per hour) or above.

The company claimed that the Overture will cut travel time from New York City to London from seven hours to three hours and 30 minutes, and the 4,782-mile flight from Tokyo to Seattle would be halved from nine hours to four hours and 30 minutes, according to Fox Weather.

It will be able to achieve this and maintain a 4,888 range while using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), according to Boom Technology, which has also pledged to go net zero carbon by 2025.

SAF is aviation fuel produced from sustainable feedstocks that on average produce up to 80% less carbon emissions over its lifecycle compared to traditional fossil fuels, the International Air Transport Association said.

The Overture will use more engines to reduce the aircraft's overall noise, an issue both the Concorde and Tu-144 were often criticized for.

"With no afterburners and buzz-free engines, Overture's takeoffs will blend in with existing long-haul fleets, resulting in a quieter experience for both passengers and airport communities," Boom Technology said in a statement.

The Overture's sonic boom will reportedly be heard over the ocean so as to not disturb people on the ground, but it is unclear how the plane will suppress the sonic booms while flying over populated areas.

The aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight in 2026, and it is expected to carry its first passengers three years later.

Two airlines and the Air Force have signed on to purchase the Overture, according to Boom Technology.

United Airlines will reportedly buy 15 aircraft once safety and operating requirements are met, and there are options to purchase 35 more. Japan Airlines has also pre-ordered 20 aircraft.