NFL monitoring resurrection of supersonic flight with eyes on European team

The NFL is looking toward supersonic flight in order to help their European dreams come true. 

NFL executives have been monitoring the progress that aerospace companies such as Boom Supersonic and other civilian companies have been making on supersonic jetliners that could potentially help deal with logistical problems for a league expansion into Europe, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

While the report suggested that the idea of expanding to Europe is not a front-burner issue, the idea that supersonic travel could arrive in a matter of years is intriguing to the NFL. 

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs arrives at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport before Super Bowl 2025. Getty Images

The league has made a hard push into the European market, scheduling annual games in London, which has expanded to games being played in Dublin, Berlin and Madrid. 

But the idea of putting a team or a division across the pond would create some incredibly challenging logistical hurdles related to travel time. 

Though that leads to the intrigue in supersonic flight, which aerospace companies have been working to revive in recent years, and Boom Supersonic hopes to have a commercial jet capable of supersonic speed ready to carry its first passengers by 2029. 

Supersonic travel across the Atlantic had been possible from 1976 to 2003 on the Concorde, but after the tragic crash of an Air France Concorde flight in 2000 and rising costs, the plane was grounded. 

Wembley Stadium in London, with a large screen showing the Los Angeles Rams versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With companies now racing to develop a new supersonic jet, chief executive of Boom Supersonic, Blake Scholl, told the Wall Street Journal that it was “inevitable” that the NFL would soon be a global sport.

“The only reason they aren’t already is the speed of travel,” he said to the outlet. 

However, there are still some issues that could come into play even if the supersonic jets return to service. 

NFL teams often travel with large groups of roughly 200 people and Boom Supersonic’s plane, the Overture, is only expected to carry 60 to 80 people.