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Commercial Supersonic Airliner Raises $100 Million in Funding

Jan. 06, 2019
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2 min read
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Commercial Supersonic Airliner Raises $100 Million in Funding
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Boom Supersonic, a Colorado-based aviation company, announced on Jan. 4 that it has raised $100 million in capital during a Series B investment round. The new funding will allow the company to continue its work on "Overture," the company's supersonic airliner.

Commercial aviation has been without a supersonic service since the final flight of the Concord in 2003. Boom is looking to return supersonic travel to the masses. Overture will have 55 seats and travel at mach 2.2, which is slightly faster than the Concord but more than twice the speed of today's commercial planes.

According to Boom, airlines would be able to operate the aircraft charging roughly what business class seats cost today. Flight times between New York and London would take just over three hours, the company says, allowing for transatlantic day trips.

A rendering of the two-seat Boom XB-1 supersonic demonstrator and the Boom airliner

The announcement marks the latest investment in the company. Japan Airlines invested in Boom in 2017, and more recently the company saw an investment by Ctrip.

Boom is currently building a one-third scale working prototype that they say should fly later this year. The company is aiming for passenger service to begin in the mid 2020s. Boom already has 30 orders for Overture on its books. Both Virgin Group and Japan Airlines have preorders with Boom.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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