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Supersonic Jet Company Boom Technology Just Got a Big New Investor

April 26, 2018
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2 min read
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Supersonic Jet Company Boom Technology Just Got a Big New Investor
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Aviation startup Boom Technology is developing a supersonic passenger plane that will seat 45 to 55 passengers. The Denver-based aircraft company gained a new investor on Wednesday: Chinese travel conglomerate Ctrip.

The new investor is a major step toward Boom's goal of having the supersonic jet on the market by 2023. Industry insiders have compared the jet to the now-defunct Concorde, which was known for completing its iconic transatlantic route in less than half the time of traditional aircraft.

Boom Technology's plane would offer a similar service on transpacific routes to Asia. “San Francisco to Shanghai, for example, could shrink from 11 hours to 6 — and a typical round-trip itinerary can be accomplished two whole days faster,” Boom CEO Blake Scholl said in a press release. The plans for the aircraft show it reaching speeds up to Mach 2.2 (1,451 miles/hour), which is about twice as fast as the average passenger jet.

It is not clear exactly how much Ctrip is investing in the Boom. The company had raised $47.3 million as of December 2017, after a $10 million investment from Japan Airlines, according to numbers from funding tracker site Crunchbase.

“All that I can say from my end is that Boom has raised (so far) over US$85 million, including seed investment, venture capital, and investments from strategic partners," Ctrip Senior International PR Manager Wei Yuan Min told Jing Travel. "At Ctrip, we invest in the future to ensure that our users are able to have access to futuristic experiences."

It is possible that Ctrip invested the difference between the $47.3 million Boom raised in its December funding round and the $85 million it says it has now. An investment of about $40 million would not be untypical for Ctrip. In 2016, it executed a $1.74 billion acquisition of Scottish travel fare metasearch engine Skyscanner.

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According to Ctrip Co-founder and Executive Chairman James Liang: “As a leading innovator in the commercial aviation industry, Boom will be positioned to provide exciting premium global flight options for Ctrip users and Ctrip is making a strategic investment in the next generation of travel.”

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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 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • 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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