Boom Supersonic Faces Doubts Over Overture Airliner as Focus Shifts to AI Data Centers
Boom Supersonic is encountering challenges as it shifts focus to manufacturing gas turbines for AI data centers, raising concerns about the timeline for its Overture supersonic airliner.
During a recent podcast interview, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed skepticism about Boom’s ability to deliver the first Overture aircraft by 2029, stating, “‘29 is their official timeline. It’s not going to happen in ‘29—it’s going to take longer.” Kirby’s comments highlight the uncertainty surrounding the project, which has already faced scrutiny from early investors.
Boom gained attention in 2024 and 2025 when it successfully flew its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft, showcasing a “boomless cruise” concept that aims to minimize the impact of sonic booms. The company’s plans for reviving supersonic travel have received support from the Trump administration, which has worked to ease regulations on commercial supersonic flights.
Despite these efforts, Kirby noted that Boom has significant hurdles to overcome in developing the Overture and obtaining FAA certification. He previously assessed the chances of the Overture entering commercial service as “50-50.”
Although Boom completed a factory for the Overture in North Carolina in 2024, the facility has remained largely inactive, raising concerns among state leaders who invested over $50 million in taxpayer funds for its construction.
In a separate development, Boom has been focusing on producing natural gas turbines for AI data centers. On October 22, the company unveiled a new factory in Centennial, Colorado, dedicated to manufacturing a 42-megawatt turbine called Superpower.
The Superpower factory aims to deliver its first turbines to AI data center customers by mid-2027, with plans to ramp up production to 25 turbines in 2028 and 50 turbines by 2029. However, Boom recently lost a $1.25 billion deal with data center developer Crusoe, which would have involved purchasing 29 of its gas turbines.
Despite this setback, Boom’s CEO Blake Scholl stated that the company plans to deliver about 250 megawatts of Superpower turbines next year, although specific customers were not disclosed. Scholl emphasized the synergy between the development of gas turbines for data centers and the Symphony engine for the Overture airliner.
The prototype turbine core, known as Sprint Core, is set to undergo testing at the Colorado Air & Space Port, with plans to fire the turbine for the first time before Thanksgiving. This milestone is crucial as Boom continues to navigate the challenges of launching both its AI data center and supersonic airliner projects.
Kirby’s comments were made during an interview on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast that appeared on October 28, 2026.
Source: Ars Technica AI