Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 43, 2025.

Introduction.

FlyConcorde Ltd. is aiming to reintroduce supersonic passenger flights by 2026, nearly two decades after the Concorde’s retirement, with new aircraft designed to cruise at 60,000 feet, use sustainable aviation fuel, and produce significantly less sonic boom. The U.S. lifting of the overland supersonic flight ban in June 2025 allows the planes to operate on domestic and transcontinental routes, expanding potential markets beyond transatlantic flights like London–New York. While the aircraft promises drastically reduced travel times—for example, London to New York in 2–3 hours and Los Angeles to Washington in 2 hours—its small capacity and high operating costs mean tickets will remain expensive, targeting primarily premium business travelers. Challenges remain, including regulatory approvals, airport readiness, and economic viability, making the 2026 launch target ambitious. Nonetheless, advancements in technology and regulations give this supersonic revival a better chance than previous attempts, positioning it as a niche, luxury travel option rather than mainstream air transport.