Supersonic travel to make a comeback: WTM
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The travel industry feels the need for speed – and expects supersonic flights to return to the skies, according to research by World Travel Market London, released at the event this week.
A WTM London poll of more than 2,000 senior travel executives found that almost two-thirds (63%) believe supersonic flying is likely to become a mainstream form of transport for holidaymakers. The survey’s findings are reflected in the WTM Global Trends Report 2016, in association with Euromonitor International, which also tips supersonic flights to ‘take off’ again soon.
Concorde, the first supersonic passenger jet, retired from service in 2003, following the tragedies of the Paris crash in 2000 and the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Now, several aeronautics firms are working on supersonic technology which could halve flight times and open up new long-haul destinations.
NASA and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are developing aircraft under the joint ‘Quiet Supersonic Technology’ or QueSST project.
They aim to build jets that fly more quietly than Concorde, which was famed for its loud sonic ‘boom’ as it broke the sound barrier. The new planes could take to the skies as early as 2020 if the project receives funding as planned.
Meanwhile, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is one of the companies investing in US firm Boom, which is also developing supersonic aircraft.
Boom flights from London to New York could take three hours, with return tickets costing an estimated US$5,000 per person. Blake Scholl, Founder and Chief Executive at Boom, claimed it would make commuting across the Atlantic a reality.
A prototype plane is expected by the end of 2017 and commercial flights could begin within a few years.
Other US companies are developing supersonic aircraft for business travellers, such as Spike Aerospace, and Aerion Corporation, which is working with Airbus.
Aerion hopes its jets will come into service by 2023.
Euromonitor International head of Travel Caroline Bremner said: “Concorde started commercial flights back in 1976.
“Now, 40 years on, it’s encouraging to see so much effort and investment being made in developing a new generation of supersonic aircraft. If the new aircraft can overcome the technical hurdles, then perhaps we can see supersonic services in the 2020s.”
However, John Strickland, Director at aviation consultancy JLS Consulting – and WTM London’s aviation expert – commented: “Supersonic flights are unlikely in the short to medium term because investment and development costs are high. “Airlines are not willing to pay those costs unless they are confident that passengers will be prepared to pay more.
“Concorde only worked on the London-New York route as there were many well-heeled passengers able to pay for the convenience but this is not true on most routes.”
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