# Boom's supersonic dream faces reality check

> United Airlines CEO doubts Boom Supersonic will deliver its Overture airliner by 2029, even as the company pivots to powering AI data centers.
- Title: Boom's supersonic dream faces reality check · Ars Technica
- Summary: United Airlines CEO doubts Boom Supersonic will deliver its Overture airliner by 2029, even as the company pivots to powering AI data centers. United…
- Keywords: boom supersonic, overture airliner, scott kirby, united airlines, supersonic flight, ai data centers, blake scholl, faa certification, technology, science, Boom's, supersonic
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/united-airlines-ceo-doubts-supersonic-airliner-from-boom-will-be-ready-by-2029
- Published: 2026-10-30T21:41:54+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: boom supersonic, overture airliner, scott kirby, united airlines, supersonic flight, ai data centers, blake scholl, faa certification, technology, science
## Boom pivots to data center power
Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl unveiled a Colorado factory making natural gas turbines for AI data centers, declaring it time for a renaissance in energy and supersonic flight.

> it's time for a renaissance in energy and in supersonic flight
## United CEO doubts 2029 delivery
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said Boom will miss its original 2029 timeline for delivering the first Overture supersonic airliner, telling podcast host Monica Langley it will take longer.

> It's not going to happen in '29, it's going to take longer.
## Kirby cites regulatory hurdles
Kirby pointed out that Boom still has many hurdles to overcome while developing Overture and getting FAA certification, cautioning it is not a guarantee they will overcome them.

> a lot of hurdles to overcome
## Earlier doubts about prospects
In March, Kirby had put the chances of Boom's Overture airliner entering commercial service at fifty-fifty, despite praising Scholl and the company in general.
## Greensboro factory sits idle
Although Boom completed building its Overture production facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2024, it has mostly sat dormant since then.
## North Carolina questions investment
The dormant factory has raised questions for North Carolina state leaders who provided more than fifty million dollars in taxpayer funding to help build the Overture facility.
## Boom loses major data center deal
Boom CEO Blake Scholl acknowledged losing a one point two five billion dollar deal where data center developer Crusoe would have purchased twenty-nine of Boom's gas turbines.
## Sprint Core turbine testing ahead
Boom completed a prototype turbine core called Sprint Core intended to power both its Superpower gas turbine and Symphony engine for the Overture airliner, set for testing at Colorado Air and Space Port.
## First turbine test before Thanksgiving
Boom plans to fire the Sprint Core turbine for the first time before Thanksgiving, a concrete development milestone as the company works to prove it can launch both ventures.
## Key takeaway

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says Boom Supersonic will miss its 2029 delivery date for the Overture airliner, citing regulatory hurdles and development challenges.