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Supersonic airliner in doubt as company shifts to powering AI data centers
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Boom Supersonic faces new doubts over its Overture supersonic airliner as the company pivots toward gas turbines for AI data centers. The Colorado-based firm recently opened a factory dedicated to producing turbines for power-hungry AI facilities. CEO Blake Scholl framed the move as a dual renaissance in energy and supersonic flight.
But early backers are questioning Boom’s delivery timeline. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast on October 28, 2026, that Overture will not arrive in 2029. “It’s going to take longer,” Kirby said, despite Boom’s official target.
Boom gained attention by flying its XB-1 demonstrator in 2024 and 2025. The tests showcased a “boomless cruise” concept using the Mach cutoff phenomenon. At high altitudes and under specific atmospheric conditions, shockwaves refract upward, reducing ground noise.
Regulatory support has boosted Boom’s ambitions. In June 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed overturning a longstanding ban on commercial supersonic flights over the United States. The rule followed an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Boom has conditional agreements with American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and United Airlines. These involve non-refundable deposits of undisclosed amounts and would let the carriers purchase Overture once it is commercially available. Boom has said certification and first paying customers could come by 2029.
Kirby’s comments underscore growing skepticism about that schedule. They also raise questions about whether Boom can fund and deliver two capital-intensive businesses at once. The company’s data-center turbine push may offer nearer-term revenue, but it could distract from aviation milestones.
Boom still insists supersonic travel is within reach. Yet its credibility now depends on meeting concrete certification and delivery dates. For airlines and investors, the key test will be whether Overture advances beyond conditional orders and demonstrator flights.
