The commercialization of hypersonic aircraft faces technical, environmental, and economic challenges, but recent advancements herald a new era of commercial flight. 

Technologies such as sonic boom reduction and sustainable fuel usage are gaining attention, and it is expected that we will experience supersonic passenger flights on major routes within the next decade.

As of 2025, the airlines operating direct flights between Atlanta (ATL) and Incheon (ICN) are Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. What currently takes 14 hours could become a reality where "lunch is in Atlanta, and dinner is in Gangnam" in the era of Mach 6.

If commercialized by 2040, I imagined how quickly a Mach 6 supersonic jet could travel to Korea and decided to calculate it myself.

If flying directly from Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) to Incheon, South Korea (ICN), the expected travel time can be calculated as follows:

Distance from Atlanta to Incheon

  • The straight-line distance is approximately 11,500 km.

Mach 6 is approximately 7,350 km/h

  • Mach 1 ≈ 1,225 km/h (at sea level)

  • Mach 6 = 1,225 x 6 = 7,350 km/h

Flight Time Calculation

  • Time = Distance ÷ Speed = 11,500 ÷ 7,350 ≈ 1.56 hours, or 1 hour 34 minutes

Incorporating Realistic Factors

Including takeoff, ascent, speed increase, and landing deceleration, the total expected time can be around 2 hours.

While security checks and boarding are separate airport processes, the flight itself could make round trips between Seoul and Atlanta possible in half a day.

Current Status of Major Supersonic and Hypersonic Jet Developments

Boom Supersonic – XB-1 & Overture

  • XB-1: In January 2025, it successfully completed its first supersonic flight in the Mojave Desert, achieving Mach 1.1.

  • Overture: A commercial supersonic passenger aircraft capable of carrying 64-80 passengers, planning to cross the Atlantic in about 3.5 hours at Mach 1.7. It aims for commercialization in 2029 and has received orders for a total of 130 aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, and others.

Venus Aerospace – Stargazer

  • Venus Aerospace in the U.S. is developing the hypersonic aircraft 'Stargazer' in collaboration with NASA, capable of reaching Mach 9 (approximately 14,500 km/h). This aircraft aims to fly from London to New York in just one hour and plans to be commercialized in the early 2030s. 

NASA & Lockheed Martin – X-59 Quesst

  • The X-59, jointly developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin, aims for 'quiet supersonic flight' with minimized sonic booms. The first flight is planned for 2025, and it will be used to collect data for regulatory easing of commercial supersonic passenger aircraft.

China COMAC – C949

  • China's state-owned aircraft manufacturer COMAC is developing the C949, which has a speed of Mach 1.6 and a flight range of 6,800 miles (approximately 10,944 km). This aircraft can accommodate 168 passengers and boasts a flight range 50% longer than the Concorde.