Supersonic airliner in doubt as company shifts to powering AI data centers
Boom’s airliner may be delayed, and its data center power business lost a customer.
Boom’s airliner may be delayed, and its data center power business lost a customer.
The short version
- Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl recently declared “it’s time for a renaissance in energy and in supersonic flight” as the supersonic airliner company unveiled a Colorado factory dedicated to making gas turbines for AI data centers.
- But Boom may be facing turbulence after early backers for both ventures have questioned the company’s delivery timeline or backed out entirely.
- One of the company’s first customers, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, has expressed doubts about Boom’s original plan to deliver the first Overture supersonic airliner in 2029.
What happened
Kirby’s latest frank assessment came during an interview with the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast that appeared on October 28, 2026. “‘29 is their official timeline,” Kirby told podcast host Monica Langley.
Why it matters
“It’s not going to happen in ‘29—it’s going to take longer.” Boom first made headlines for flying its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft in 2024 and 2025 to demonstrate a “boomless cruise” concept that harnesses the Mach cutoff phenomenon.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.