Boom founder and CEO visited United Airlines in Washington and posted this photo on X.
Boom Supersonic
A United Airlines executive voiced support for Denver-based startup Boom Supersonic on Thursday, seemingly going beyond the carrier’s previous statements on the aircraft maker.
Speaking at an investor conference, where an analyst asked for an update on the carrier’s investment in supersonic and electronic vertical takeoff and landing companies, United Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen cited some EVTOL companies and then discussed the supersonic sector.
“There’s a real demand for supersonic across the North Atlantic for sure,” he said. “The economics of that are tougher. Blake Scholl at Boom has done some amazing things to drive that forward, and we’re excited about it. There’s no question. it would be a product our customers, if we can deliver to them at the right price would be very, very excited.”
Scholl is founder and CEO of Boom, which plans to manufacture its Overture aircraft at a plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. It could fly as early as the current decade.
American, United and Japan Air Lines have all placed preliminary orders for aircraft. In a 2024 interview, Scholl said the three have made “meaningful non-refundable deposits,” but would not disclose the amounts. He also acknowledged that “Anything is cancellable.”
United said in 2021 that it “will purchase 15 of Boom’s ‘Overture’ airliners, once Overture meets United’s demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements, with an option for an additional 35 aircraft. The companies will work together on meeting those requirements before delivery.” It has not updated the statement.
On Wednesday, Scholl posted on X about his visit to United’s Washington, D.C. office.
“United is doing a really nice job updating the fit and finish of… seemingly everything,” he wrote. “Yesterday I got to see their new DC office for the first time, which has a really gorgeous lobby.”
Asked on Friday about the United endorsement, Scholl responded in an email: “2025 has been a landmark year for supersonic—with XB-1 breaking the sound barrier, Boom demonstrating a practical solution for eliminating sonic booms, and the president repealing the ban on supersonic in the US. We’re more energized than ever to partner with United and deliver supersonic to passengers—at a price point radically more affordable than Concorde ever was.”
Skepticism about Boom’s plan to build supersonic aircraft has been high within the aerospace industry, but the company has convinced North Carolina officials, with the state committing to a grant, based on new tax revenue and the company’s investment, of up to $87 million over 20 years. Additionally, the legislature appropriated $107 million for site and road improvements and construction of aircraft hangars.
While United has not said how much it has committed to Boom, Leskinen seemed to hint that the investment has not been high when he discussed the carrier’s investment in AI, which he said “intersects with booking trips and how you plan for a trip.
“We’re spending some more time to provide some more thoughtful curated distribution options,” Leskinen said. “Overall, having a venture team, we got to be very thoughtful and disciplined around what we invest. And I think you’ve seen that out of United Airlines. We are making relatively small checks but making sure that it educates the larger parent so that we’re at the cutting edge of innovation. I think that, that’s something that this industry has been missing.”