Japan Airlines Invests Into Boom Technologies To Produce Supersonic Airplanes

Japan Airlines, or JAL for short, shares a passion for fast air travel with Boom Technologies, a startup company based in Denver. JAL, in a gesture based around their mutual interests, invested $10 million into Boom, so the two could resurrect supersonic aviation.

JAPAN AIRLINES INVESTS INTO BOOM TECHNOLOGIES

Boom’s ultimate goal is to produce a plane capable of flying at 1,450 mph, or Mach 2.2, with room in the business class seating to accommodate 44 to 55 passengers. Concorde, a now-defunct supersonic plane, previously could house about twice as many passengers at a slightly slower velocity. If Boom succeeds, their supersonic vehicle will be the first in its class to takeoff since Concorde was retired in 2003.

Blake Scholl, the CEO and founder of Boom, spoke to CNNMoney about the working relationship between the two companies, noting how they’ve been collaborating since last year. According to Scholl, “The money is largely symbolic, but it’s an important symbol. JAL doesn’t put $10 million around without thinking really hard about it.” Moreover, JAL and Boom wish to demonstrate how there is “real airline customer interest in” supersonic air travel.

Five airlines have expressed interest in purchasing up to 76 of Boom’s airplanes should they successfully launch. JAP, due to their negotiations, procured the option of buying up to 20. Virgin Atlantic Airlines, which can purchase up to ten planes, is the only other party confirmed to have invested in Boom.

Boom has altogether accumulated $51 million in funding, a number which includes JAL’s investment. The technology company recently unveiled their XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, a prototype model. Virgin aided Boom with the aircraft’s construction.