Recently, American Airlines Group Inc. announced it will buy up to 20 new jets from Boom Supersonic, an aircraft maker. American Airlines is the second major US airline to announce that it will buy supersonic airplanes.
Blake Scholl, Chief Executive of Boom Supersonic, says that in total, 130 airplanes have been ordered. Total sales are around $26 billion.
Airlines are interested in supersonic jets again. Almost 20 years ago, the supersonic jet Concorde, operated by Air France and British Airways, was retired. The main reasons for retiring the jet were a deadly crash and the high cost of maintenance.
United Airlines Holdings Inc. also wants supersonic jets and last year announced it would buy 15 from Boom. Both United Airlines and American Airlines will only buy the aircraft if they are safe and affordable to operate.
The new jet from Boom called Overture will carry between 65 and 80 passengers. It will be able to travel from London, UK to Miami, Florida in less than 5 hours, a trip that is currently about 9 hours.
Matt Miller of American Airlines says that it is too early to talk about ticket prices. The first flight with passengers will be in 2029 or later.
Environmentalists have criticized supersonic jets because they use more fuel than normal jets. However, the Overture jet is designed to use sustainable aviation fuel, a special fuel that is less harmful to the environment than normal fuel.
The first Overture will finish being produced in 2025 and start test flights in 2026. Some people think there will be delays.
VOCABULARY
- Announce – share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report
- Jet – an airplane with a powerful “jet” engine
- Supersonic – a speed faster than sound; to travel faster than sound
- Chief executive – president; top person; boss
- Retire – to stop using or remove from service;
- Maintenance – the process or actions of keeping something in good condition;
- Operate – to control or use a machine;
- Environmentalist – a person who fights or tries to protect the environment
- Criticize – to judge; to find mistakes or problems with something
- Harmful – damaging; hurtful; negative; bad for
- Environment – the natural world, the place we live, the area around us, nature
- Delay – late; postponed; suspended; not on time; slowed down
Original story from Reuters below:
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