The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed lifting a decades-old ban on overland supersonic travel, a move that could significantly reduce flight times between cities like Los Angeles and New York to approximately three hours. The agency plans to replace the 1973 prohibition with new noise limits, aiming to allow aircraft traveling faster than Mach 1 to operate over land without causing disruptive sonic booms.

Supersonic jets travel at speeds exceeding Mach 1, more than 770 mph, while current commercial airliners typically cruise between 550 and 600 mph. The FAA's proposal, published in the Federal Register, would permit faster-than-sound flights as long as the resulting noise falls below a designated threshold.

The FAA intends to introduce separate noise standards for takeoffs and landings later this year, with the final rules anticipated by mid-2027. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that advancements in aerospace engineering, new materials, and aircraft design are expected to mitigate the impact of sonic booms.

"This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while minimizing noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports," Bedford said. He added that modern supersonic aircraft will facilitate faster travel without compromising safety.

Companies such as Boom Supersonic are actively developing supersonic aircraft. The Colorado-based company has reported orders from United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines for planes designed to carry 60 to 80 passengers. Spike Aerospace, based in Atlanta, is also developing a luxury supersonic private jet.

This regulatory shift follows a June 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, which characterized the ban on supersonic flights as "weakening our global competitiveness." The order asserted that advancements in aerospace technology now make supersonic flight "safe, sustainable, and commercially viable."

The original ban was enacted in 1973 following public outcry and incidents, such as the 1960s Oklahoma City experiments, where sonic booms reportedly caused shattered windows and structural damage. The FAA's action marks a potential turning point in the return of supersonic air travel over land.