Boom Goes Supersonic - Here's Concorde 2.0, and More

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Welcome to AviationOutlook Newsletter, your one-stop source for the most relevant Aviation & Aerospace news briefs and industry insights (MINUS noise).

Here are the 10 Top Aviation & Aerospace Updates for you today.Let’s get started.

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Civil Jet Shatters Sound Barrier and Creates History

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully broke the sound barrier yesterday, marking the first supersonic flight by a privately developed civil jet.

This milestone accelerates the company’s path toward launching its Overture airliner, which aims to revive commercial supersonic travel by 2029 with orders already placed by major airlines.

The achievement positions Boom as a critical player in redefining global aviation while addressing geopolitical competition.

Key Points

• Historic Flight: XB-1 reached Mach 1.1 during its 12th test flight from Mojave Air & Space Port, the same site where Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in 1947.

• Overture's Vision: The full-scale Overture airliner targets Mach 1.7 speeds (1,295 mph), cutting transatlantic flights to ~3.5 hours, with 130 pre-orders from American, United, and Japan Airlines.

• Sustainability Focus: Overture will use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and aims for net-zero carbon operations.

• Manufacturing Scale: Boom's North Carolina "Superfactory" can produce 33 Overture jets annually, scaling to 66, with a projected $32B economic impact over 20 years.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations include Northrop Grumman for defense applications and StandardAero for engine assembly, while Symphony engines are designed in-house.

• Regulatory Hurdles: FAA restrictions on supersonic overland flights remain, though NASA's X-59 project could ease regulations by mitigating sonic booms.

What It Means

I see this as a huge moment for both Boom and the broader aviation industry.

The XB-1's success validates Boom's engineering approach, proving that supersonic tech can be developed without 100% government backing—a first in aviation history.

For airlines, Overture's promise of halving flight times could reshape premium travel markets, justifying its $200M-per-unit price tag.

However, challenges loom: securing ~$8B in additional funding, scaling production, and navigating FAA approvals will test Boom's execution.

From a geopolitical angle, CEO Blake Scholl's emphasis on outpacing China's aviation growth highlights the strategic importance of Overture. With Boeing struggling and China developing competing jets, Boom's innovation could help the U.S. retain aerospace leadership.

Meanwhile, the focus on SAF aligns with global decarbonization trends, though questions linger about fuel availability and cost.

Other Key Aviation and Aerospace Industry Updates for Today 👇

US Appeals Court Halts Biden Airline Fee Transparency Rule

A U.S. appeals court has blocked the Biden administration's 2024 airline fee disclosure rule, which would have required airlines to show service fees alongside ticket prices.

The court found that while the Transportation Department had the authority, it failed to follow proper procedures by not allowing airlines to comment on key study data.

The rule aimed to prevent consumers from overpaying $543 million in fees annually. For context, U.S. airlines collected $7.1 billion in baggage fees in 2023.

United Airlines Surpasses Rivals in Fleet Size and International Routes

United Airlines has reached 1,000 mainline aircraft, surpassing Delta (985) and American (978) to become the world's largest airline by fleet size.

United also leads in available seat miles with 311.2 billion, compared to Delta's 288.4B and American's 292.9B.

While Delta tops profitability with $6B operating income versus United's $5.1B, United edges in revenue at $57.1B.

The airline's success stems from pandemic-era fleet retention and aggressive international expansion, particularly in European routes.

China's AutoFlight Secures Historic Production Certificate for 2-Ton Cargo eVTOL

China's AutoFlight has received the world's first production certificate for a 2-ton eVTOL aircraft from CAAC on December 24, 2024. This certification confirms the manufacturer's ability to consistently mass-produce cargo eVTOL aircraft, meeting approved design standards and quality requirements.

The V2000CG CarryAll is a fully electric, uncrewed cargo eVTOL designed for logistics and emergency operations, offering payload capacity similar to small helicopters while being quieter and more cost-effective.

The company has secured multiple orders from logistics companies and low-altitude operators.

Spirit Airlines Drops 12 Major Routes in Network Restructuring Move

Spirit Airlines is cutting 12 domestic routes by March's end, including key connections from Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. The Dania Beach-based carrier is eliminating routes such as Atlanta-New York, Miami-Minneapolis, and Los Angeles-Salt Lake City.

The airline, which filed for bankruptcy in November, says these adjustments align with its strategy to focus on the strongest-performing routes.

After accumulating more than $2.5 billion in losses since 2020, Spirit is restructuring its commercial strategy, moving away from its bare-bones model.

Pratt Whitney Hydrogen Steam Technology Exceeds Efficiency Targets

Pratt & Whitney's HySIITE hydrogen-steam hybrid engine project has shown promising results.

It demonstrates 35% better energy efficiency than current engines while reducing NOx emissions by 99.3% with zero CO2 emissions.

The geared-fan engine design uses waste heat to produce steam, which is injected back into the system. The architecture fits within existing narrowbody nacelles and features a smaller core, enabling bypass ratios up to 50:1.

United MileagePlus Status Match Returns With Extended Benefits Package

United Airlines has launched its 2025 status match program running through June 30th.

Elite members from major airlines can receive temporary United Premier status (Silver, Gold, or Platinum) for 120 days after an activating flight.

To extend status through January 2026, you must complete tier-specific requirements like 5-15 Premier Qualifying Flights and 1,700-5,000 Premier Qualifying Points.

The program is limited to one match every five years and requires proof of current elite status.

Lufthansa Technik Wins Major China Eastern A350 Maintenance Contract

China Eastern's subsidiary EASTEC has signed a 12-year exclusive maintenance agreement with Lufthansa Technik for their Airbus A350 fleet's auxiliary power units.

The service will be performed at Lufthansa's specialized Hamburg facility, which is certified to maintain Honeywell HGT1700 APUs.

This partnership extends a 20-year relationship between the companies and strengthens Lufthansa Technik's position in China's aviation market.

The deal includes comprehensive MRO services, training, and management support.

Utah Plans Advanced Air Mobility Network for 2034 Winter Olympics

BETA Technologies and Utah's 47G Aerospace & Defense signed a landmark agreement to establish a statewide advanced air mobility network ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics.

The partnership will create an electric aircraft charging infrastructure, initially focusing on cargo operations before expanding to passenger services.

The project, backed by Utah's Department of Transportation and Governor's Office, aims to generate 11,000 jobs and $8 billion in business activity by 2045.

BETA's aircraft can transport up to 1,250 pounds of cargo or five passengers.

Advanced Drone Detection Partnership Targets Future Aviation Security

Skyway and MatrixSpace have formed a strategic partnership to enhance air traffic management and drone detection capabilities.

MatrixSpace will integrate its AI-enabled radar technology into Skyway's vertiport and airspace management systems to improve situational awareness.

The collaboration aims to strengthen monitoring of low-altitude airspace, particularly for upcoming deployments in urban air mobility.

This partnership addresses growing concerns about airspace safety and unauthorized drone operations while supporting the expansion of advanced air mobility infrastructure.