As Demand for International Summer Air Travel Surges, Passengers Look to a Supersonic Future
After the travel industry entered a holding pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers are taking to the skies again—and this summer, many will have passports in-hand.
According to Expedia data, flight searches are up 25% overall for June through August 2023 travel compared to the same time last year, and interest is up triple digits for international destinations across Europe and Asia.
London, Rome, and Paris are among the top five international flight searches, with trending country destinations that include New Zealand, Vietnam, and Japan, which continues to see incredible interest and is one of the fastest-growing international destinations year-to-date for U.S. travelers. Flight searches for summer are up significantly compared to the same time period last year for Osaka (+592%), Tokyo (+290%), and Kyoto (+265%).
With international flights top of mind, so is a faster travel future from airlines. In a recent study with global premium passengers, interest in supersonic air travel is sky high, driven by faster flight times, such as San Francisco to Tokyo in 6:00 hours instead of more than 10 hours. Philadelphia to London in 3:45 hours instead of 6:45 hours or Miami to Madrid in 4:25 hours instead of 7:35 hours. Flying supersonic will mean that overnight flights are no longer needed and weekend trips from the eastern seaboard to the UK or Europe are possible.
“With the resurgence of air travel, the vital importance of connecting with people and exploring the world in-person has only been further solidified,” said Tracy Bevington SVP, Commercial Product and Services at Boom Supersonic. “And it’s clear that fliers want and believe that sustainable supersonic flight on Overture will make the world dramatically more accessible and change both where people choose to go, and who they choose to fly.”
For these passengers, supersonic isn’t a far-off dream. More than 9 in 10 believe that commercial supersonic will be a booking option within the next 10 years, versus 74% a year earlier, and 87% would switch from their preferred airline to access supersonic flight.
Boom Supersonic currently has orders and pre-orders for its sustainable, supersonic airliner, Overture from United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
Results from the study, which included 500 global premium passengers—frequent fliers who travel internationally in business class, first class, or a mix of the two—not only highlight supersonic excitement and anticipation, but underscore the lengths that fliers will go to speed up their flights.
- 97% of global premium passengers are interested in flying on a supersonic airplane for long-haul international trips, up from 81% in 2021.
- 92% of global premium passengers believe that supersonic air travel will be commercially available in the next 10 years (vs. 74% in 2021)
- 87% of global premium passengers are interested in switching from their preferred airline in order to gain access to supersonic travel.
This same enthusiasm carries over to general travelers, defined as passengers who have taken more than one 4+ hour flight in the last five years, as 81% are interested in flying on a supersonic airplane for long-haul international trips and 84% believe supersonic air travel will be commercially available in the next 10 years.
“We’re on the precipice of a new era in air travel, one that is far more sustainable and that provides increased access to the places people want to see and explore,” added Bevington. “For some passengers, that time can’t come fast enough.”
Learn more about Overture, Boom Supersonic’s sustainable, supersonic airliner here.
Methodology
U.S.-based online survey conducted in September, 2022 with 1500 passengers, including 500 global premium passengers who fly transoceanic 2x+/year (before COVID) and who fly exclusively either business or first class, as well as 1000 general travelers who have taken 1 4+ hour flight in the past 5 years and fly at least 1x/year in any class for any duration (before COVID)
