Boom Supersonic Shifts Focus to AI Data Center Turbines Amid Airline Doubts

Shift in Company Focus

Boom Supersonic, a company initially known for its efforts to revive supersonic air travel, has announced a new direction. CEO Blake Scholl stated a need for "a renaissance in energy and in supersonic flight" as the company unveiled a factory in Colorado. This new facility is dedicated to manufacturing gas turbines specifically for AI data centers.

Airline Doubts on Supersonic Jet Delivery

The company's original plan to deliver the Overture supersonic airliner by 2029 is facing skepticism from early customers. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, a conditional backer, publicly stated that the 2029 timeline is unrealistic. This assessment was made during an interview on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast on October 28, 2026, where Kirby indicated the project would take longer than anticipated.

Background on Supersonic Efforts

Boom Supersonic gained attention for flying its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft in 2024 and 2025. This demonstrator aimed to prove a "boomless cruise" concept, which involves flying at specific altitudes and speeds to minimize the sonic boom's impact on the ground. The company's ambition to reintroduce supersonic commercial flights received support from the Trump administration, which proposed overturning a ban on such flights over the United States in June 2026.

Uncertainty for Airline Partnerships

Boom's press releases previously outlined achieving aircraft certification and carrying paying customers by 2029. The company holds conditional agreements with American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and United Airlines, which include non-refundable deposits. These agreements would allow the airlines to purchase the Overture aircraft once it becomes commercially available, but the recent developments introduce uncertainty regarding these partnerships and the overall timeline.