With the emergence of self-driving cars and the proposition of air taxis and even a transatlantic tunnel, it’s no surprise travelers are asking, “Is the Concorde coming back?”
The famous supersonic passenger flights last took off in 2003, but traveling at the speed of sound is seemingly within the realm of possibilities for the new year. (Curious? Can’t say we blame you.) Here’s what you need to know as you start mapping out your 2026 travel bucket list.
Is the Concorde coming back in 2026?
Remember when making our way across the pond — NYC to London — took only three hours courtesy of the Concorde? We’ve had subway rides longer than that, for goodness sakes.
According to our friends at Secret London and reports from Aviation A2Z, a company named Fly Concorde LTD is developing The Concorde 2.0 in the original’s likeness. There will, however, be some differences: in addition to flying higher, roughly at 60,000 feet, the planes are reportedly 50% lighters quieter and more environmentally friendly than the original. Plus, the NYC-to-London route will clock in at two hours.
So, with such accolades, when can we expect to see them preparing for takeoff? Reports suggest as soon as 2026, which could completely change the game.
Another supersonic aircraft to familiarize yourself with is Boom, and its plane, Overture. It’s expected to be ready for takeoff in 2029 — so we’ll have to be patient a bit longer — and a transatlantic trip from NYC to London will clock in at three hours and 40 minutes. A breeze!
According to Boom’s website, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines have orders and pre‑orders of Overture to fly within their fleets.
The company adds, “With Overture and the realization of sustainable supersonic air travel, there’s an opportunity to harness next generation speed and sustainability to advance the ways we connect with others, experience the world, and conduct business.”
Time will tell if we’re able to, once again, travel faster than the speed of sound. In the meantime, if you’re going the old-fashioned route and driving, the most rewarding road trip of the year has been crowned, and it’s a wintertime paradise!