New 'Concorde' could be back in the skies 'by the end of this decade'

Concorde was the king of the skies until it stopped flying in 2003. The plane was famous for its "supersonic" travel and now, over two decades later, it could be making a return.

An expert has shared his insight into whether a form of supersonic travel could return, and when.

Trevor Bates, dynamic packaging aviation manager at Thomas Cook online travel agency, said: "The dream of supersonic passenger travel never truly died with Concorde - it simply entered a new phase of innovation.

"What we're seeing now is not just a nostalgic comeback, but a technological evolution aimed at addressing the core issues that grounded Concorde two decades ago: excessive noise, high operating costs, and limited environmental efficiency."

He adds that Boom Supersonic and NASA's QueSST program are leading this new wave.

Trevor says Boom's XB-1 demonstrator has already achieved supersonic flight, proving the viability of modern materials such as carbon-fibre composites and advanced digital flight systems, while NASA's X-59 QueSST is pioneering ways to turn the infamous "sonic boom" into a far quieter "sonic thump."

Together, these projects could make overland supersonic flight acceptable for the first time, he adds.

Trevor says: "The goal is not only speed but sustainability. Boom's in-house Symphony engine, designed for Mach 1.7 cruise speeds, will also rely on 100% sustainable aviation fuel - a key difference from Concorde's era.

"If these technologies scale economically, we could see a genuine return to supersonic passenger service by the end of this decade."

Trevor says that there is no modern Concorde flying today, with the fastest commercial jet currently being the Airbus A380 which cruises at around 700mph.

On why Concorde failed in the first place, Trevor says it was too loud, too costly, and too exclusive.

But, he says this time, the industry's focus on quieter engines, lower emissions, and broader accessibility which "could finally deliver on the promise of supersonic travel - not as a luxury for the few, but as a realistic option for the many."