FAA Proposes Allowing Supersonic Airliners to Fly Over US Cities if They're Quiet

A long-standing ban on commercial supersonic flights over the United States would be overturned in a new rule proposed by the US Federal Aviation Administration. That could pave the way for the possible return of commercial supersonic airliners—as long as such aircraft can reduce the ground-level impacts of their sonic booms. The FAA originally banned overland supersonic flights by civil aircraft in 1973, following US military tests involving supersonic flights over US cities such as Oklahoma City, Chicago, and St.

Louis in the 1960s. But the Trump administration has championed the repeal of the ban to pave the way for supersonic airliners that could operate without disruptive sonic booms. So the FAA’s new rulemaking action on June 30, 2026, follows the direction of an executive order issued by President Trump on June 6, 2025.

The newly proposed rule would replace the 53-year prohibition with an interim “noise-based” certification standard requiring any sonic boom overpressure at the surface to be kept below 0.11 pounds per square foot. That proposed standard is based on the Colorado-based startup Boom Supersonic having demonstrated quiet Mach cutoff flights with its XB-1 aircraft —harnessing specific atmospheric conditions while flying just beyond supersonic speeds at higher altitudes so that the aircraft’s shockwaves are refracted upward into the atmosphere rather than traveling to the ground. The proposed rule marks a significant step toward reviving commercial supersonic travel, with potential implications for the aviation industry.

Why this matters: The FAA's proposal could have far-reaching implications for the aviation industry, potentially paving the way for a new generation of supersonic airliners. If successful, this could reduce travel times between major cities, increase passenger comfort, and offer more efficient flight operations. For developers, this means a renewed focus on designing quiet supersonic aircraft, while businesses may see new opportunities in supersonic travel.

For consumers, the prospect of faster travel times is a major draw. However, questions remain about the feasibility of meeting the proposed noise standards, the cost of developing quiet supersonic aircraft, and the potential environmental impacts of increased supersonic flight operations. As the FAA continues to refine its proposal, these factors will be crucial in determining the future of commercial supersonic travel.