Concorde is set to make a comeback in 2026
By Molly Grace • Published: 07 Jul 2025 • 23:12 • 2 minutes read
Photo credit: Ralph Ruppert/Pixabay
After more than two decades since the iconic Concorde was retired, supersonic passenger travel is poised for a comeback. Industry insiders and technology companies confirm that 2026 is being targeted for the launch of the next generation of supersonic jets promising to fly passengers across continents in a fraction of today’s travel time.
The announcement follows the signing of new U.S. legislation this June 2025, removing long-standing bans on supersonic travel over land. This historic change opens the door for routes across North America and beyond, made possible by modern noise-reduction technologies that suppress the loud sonic booms which plagued the original Concorde, which in my personal opinion was one of the coolest things about it!
A company called Fly‑Concorde Ltd, backed by international engineers and aviation entrepreneurs, is spearheading the revival. Their new aircraft unofficially dubbed “Concorde 2.0” will look familiar to aviation enthusiasts: a sleek delta wing design, sharp nose, and cruising speeds well above Mach 2 (over 2,450 km/h). However, it’s packed with new gadgets and innovation. The new jets will run on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), be 50% lighter than their 20th-century predecessor, operate at altitudes around 60,000 feet and hopefully have less accidents!
Advances in materials science and aerodynamics are key to the revival. The team behind the aircraft, including engineers formerly affiliated with NASA and Airbus, report that the new designs produce significantly less noise and are more fuel efficient. “This is not just about speed, it’s about responsibility, too,” said Dr Pano Churchill, a lead developer in sonic-boom suppression technology. The plan is to have the first commercial flights coincide with the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first transatlantic flight in 1976. Routes such as New York to London or Los Angeles to Washington could be completed in just two hours compared to the current six to seven. Ticket prices are expected to be high initially, appealing to business travellers and premium fliers. However, manufacturers hope that operating costs will eventually come down, allowing broader public access to ultra-fast travel.
Though not a direct relaunch of the original Concorde (which was decommissioned in 2003), this new chapter in aviation honours its legacy while embracing 21st-century environmental and technological standards. If successful, the age of supersonic passenger flight may once again be within reach and this time, built to last.
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Molly Grace
Molly is a British journalist and author who has lived in Spain for over 25 years. With a background in animal welfare, equestrian science, and veterinary nursing, she brings curiosity, humour, and a sharp investigative eye to her work. At Euro Weekly News, Molly explores the intersections of nature, culture, and community - drawing on her deep local knowledge and passion for stories that reflect life in Spain from the ground up.
Comments
naimah
08 July 2025 • 12:16I watched concorde fly over many times at air displays in the UK, it was an amazing piece of engineering. Also went inside one (on the ground) at an aviation museum, can´t remember the name of the place, but they had taken out some panels on the inside so that you could see the wiring loom. Have never seen anything like it
Stuart Simpson
08 July 2025 • 18:49👍👍
TcM
08 July 2025 • 21:09LoL best reply Ever well done you! Cherts
Mark
08 July 2025 • 22:34There’s one at Duxford in Cambridgeshire
Mark
08 July 2025 • 22:38I agree, Concorde had a phenomenal safety record, and the one fatal hull loss accident wasn’t a fault with Concorde itself.
Pauline
08 July 2025 • 23:17Concord is at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey.
Paul
08 July 2025 • 23:45Concorde
Chris
09 July 2025 • 12:01A lot of negative comments on here regarding the launch of the new Concorde and it’s build time. I recall reading about this many years ago. I also read about it having practice flights this year too.. So just ignore the balloon knots Molly. They’re clearly the morons.
Dave Daly
10 July 2025 • 21:30So glad you are in a “happy” place !
Molly Grace
08 July 2025 • 23:24I prefer equine manure, it’s a better fertiliser.
Isaac
09 July 2025 • 03:43Well done for saying the truth
Harvey Davidson
09 July 2025 • 12:27👍👍
David
08 July 2025 • 13:43I’m from Grimsby so my dad would bring us to Kirmington Airport, which is now Humberside Airport just to see Concord land and take off and we really loved seeing it. So glad to see Mark 2 may soon be here.
Gerard wright
08 July 2025 • 14:23I used to live in Slough Berkshire about 15 miles from Heathrow and always knew when Concord was flying and watched from my backyard at how beautiful the aircraft was and that awesome sound glad it’s coming back.
Disgusted of East London
08 July 2025 • 15:59How can “Concorde is set to make a comeback in 2026” be the headline? It’s a lie at worst and misleading at best and shit journalism and / or editorial policy, either way.
Dudley Miller
09 July 2025 • 14:41Agree with you Molly . This new project has been evolving over some years and is just coming to fruition. The new laws being brought in by the USA considerably help .
Dave Daly
10 July 2025 • 21:31Another happy person, who’s upset you in your lifetime? Rhetorical not that interested.
Trevor Stephenson
08 July 2025 • 16:41Living in the Caribbean we used to hear the ‘boom’ when Concorde was flying to Rio ( I believe). Whatever, it was a very exciting occurrence. My wish was one day to experience such a flight, but I knew it was way out of my league. A few years later I was booked on BA, London to NYC and was surprisingly, due to overbooking , bumped out of first class ( might I add I had upgraded by using a lot of mileage). I was offered an alternative flight which incredibly turned out to be on Concorde! What an amazing experience it was. I still refer to that stroke of luck as my ‘free’ Concorde flight!
Molly Grace
08 July 2025 • 22:59Sounds amazing Trevor, thanks for sharing that story!
Deedee3
08 July 2025 • 23:15Should’ve done the lottery that day 🙂
Michael critchfield
08 July 2025 • 17:15I enjoyed the article you wrote Molly Grace. and would love to travel on concord 2.
Molly Grace
08 July 2025 • 22:55Thank you Michael! I appreciate your positive feedback.
Gordon
08 July 2025 • 18:38I used to live near heathrow in hownslow west and had the joy of living under the flight path of the concorde. Hearing its roar has it goes over to land, you could hear it when it taxis the runway and we knew when it was about to take off too as for a few minutes before it takes off it was heard for miles. Amazing spectacle.
Philip
09 July 2025 • 12:48Back in the day when I was working as a builder I was doing a refurb of St Mawgan Air station Control Tower. As Concorde buffs will know it’s first flight was to RAF St Mawgan. The refurb of the tower was coincidentally 25 years after Concords first flight and it came and did a low level flypast at St Mawgan and I and many others had a wonderful close up flypast.
Alex
08 July 2025 • 18:49Hi I watched concord back in the day . Saw it flew over our house once. And once we were going away on holiday, can’t remember where, but what was cool about it was when we were lining up for the runway I noticed a concord behind the plane we were on. Ive seen a few articles about concord returning and I immediately think it’s talking about BOOM project where you’ll get to fly 1.7 times the sound barrier. With the longer nose to help with the sonic boom. Is this what is meant by concord coming back. Which I think it is the boom plane. I’ve heard nothing about bringing back the concord. I think ( people using concord subject) to ignite people’s interest in this.
Rob
08 July 2025 • 19:05Concord Swan sky good see come back in sky it’s about time there nothing wrong it yes one set back dew metal on runway there no prob plane it’s self flyed ages with no prob I’m very happy see come back out retirement and sure lot people who could afford go her but love her with a passion will happy see her come back good on who ever restated her back .
Lee Edward Haack
08 July 2025 • 19:47Great piece but lacking in important details: how much will flights cost and how much time will a flight take, say New York to London???
Molly Grace
08 July 2025 • 23:01Hi Lee, Unfortunately the only information available from the source is that concorde is set to make a return, it is said to be next year, but who knows it might be longer! Until then i’m afraid we will never know actual prices or time the trips will take.
SteveA
08 July 2025 • 20:26Is it April 1st? A new supersonic airliner would take 10-15 years minimum to design, develop, manufacture and certify before it could enter commercial service. It would be a hard push to have one in service by 2036, 2046 would me more realistic. To suggest that services could be launched in 2026 is utter nonsense. Maybe Kelvin had a point.
Deedee3
08 July 2025 • 23:20Why couldn’t they have been working on it for the past 10/15 years??
Just a thought
Molly Grace
08 July 2025 • 23:27Ah! Maybe they have which is why they have announced that it is set to return for 2026… Good thinking!
Terry Steen
14 July 2025 • 12:06So who is covering the design authority for RR engines?
John Smith
14 July 2025 • 23:07Or maybe you have no clue and fell for a piece of wishful corporate spin
Robert Akehurst
08 July 2025 • 20:47Since 2003, a lot of us miss this Magnificent piece off engineering flying across our sky’s. I’ve been to Fairford where it used to land & depart on many times, I hope it makes a come back there too.
Steve
08 July 2025 • 21:12Click bait rubbish. Concorde isn’t making a comeback and I highly doubt the next generation of supersonic jet will be launched by next year.
James Liskutin
08 July 2025 • 21:28So no… concord is not making a comeback. 🙁
Mike
08 July 2025 • 22:22Less accidents? The Concorde had one in all its years of service.
John Tallsmith
08 July 2025 • 22:54Awful aircraft it made an appaliing amount of noise. I hated it.
Deedee3
08 July 2025 • 23:23🤣🤣🤣
Stevos
09 July 2025 • 00:19You are a Plum.
Paul
09 July 2025 • 00:41There’s always one 😊
Giss
08 July 2025 • 23:00I’ll put money on it, we’ll see the Beast from the East2, actually happen!!!
Before the next supersonic, transatlantic commercial flight. 😉
Paul
09 July 2025 • 00:03Either that, or they’ll ban it before it even gets into the sky, through fear of upsetting the illegal boats crossing the channel 🤨
J Joseph
08 July 2025 • 23:14As Molly Said…it would be wonderful a fruitful coming back of Concord….connecting the places more easily and putting up better innovations to plan out it’s better operations… learning good things from our faults….Moving forward Positively…. Good luck.
Smith
08 July 2025 • 23:42Interesting. How does this work with the net zero nutters then, oh sorry, I forgot, it is for them to fly to all their important meetings to save the planet 🙄.
Ginnie
08 July 2025 • 23:56Really disgusted by reading such demoralising comments. Molly ignore the crap, the article is well composed. It is good to hear the concord is
making a comeback!
Paul
09 July 2025 • 00:08Concorde
Mark James
09 July 2025 • 04:54‘Fewer’, not ‘less’ accidents
John Smith
14 July 2025 • 23:05The article is a piece of corporate nonsense
Kelly
09 July 2025 • 00:11I can imagine this being terrible for the environment.
Stevos
09 July 2025 • 00:22John the Plum, you shall be remembered as.
WhoooRU
09 July 2025 • 01:16Looking forward to seeing the new plane when it’s released. Was peeved when the original was taken out of use back in 00s
Oscar James
09 July 2025 • 05:33Well after doing my own research it turns out there will NOT be a comeback for Concord (2.0) in 2026 or anytime in the near future which is a shame. (Sorry Molly) II lived in Devon as a child in the 80’s and used to love hearing Concords sonic boom as it broke the sound barrier on its way to New York…
A Smith-Magee
09 July 2025 • 09:28I remember seeing one of the first Concords fly over my Mums house in Ilford all silver no markings..Later on she moved to Twyford and at 10 am we would see her fly over to USA .BEAUTIFUL..The Yanks never forgave us for beating them supersonic commercially..that is why they put so many flight restrictions on her..and it was a american aircraft’s dropped junk that caused the accident in France..Concord had a fault and accident free record ..She should never have been stopped flying…beautiful!!!
Irfan
09 July 2025 • 10:19I had the good fortune of working in Reading, Berkshire when I knew Concorde would fly above our building. At exactly 10.50am you could hear that distinct sound and most people would leave their desks and head towards the windows, only to watch this magnificent piece of engineering soar past us, incredible.
On another occasion, when you could park your car at the end of the runway on perimeter road, I was luck enough to capture some beautiful pictures of Concorde landing during sunset. What sound, what pictures. Sadly lost the 35mm negatives & photos in a house move ☹️.
James
09 July 2025 • 10:22The story has far too many red flags to be true
John
09 July 2025 • 10:27Over two decades of rigorous engineering and policy work have set the stage for Concorde’s comeback. Recent advancements in sustainable fuel and sonic boom suppression are making supersonic travel mainstream again—just in time for the 50th anniversary of its first commercial flight in January 2026.
Confirmed facts: The Concorde is set to return in 2026, marking 50 years since its original commercial debut in January 1976.
Tom Doenhoff
10 July 2025 • 16:31No chance at all.
John Smith
14 July 2025 • 23:04Nonsense. There will be no commercial supersonic flight in 2026 nor for many more years, if ever at all.
John
09 July 2025 • 10:411. 🌍 Aero World – “Concorde: World’s First Supersonic Aircraft to Fly Again in 2026”
Covers the U.S. policy shift, Fly-Concorde Limited’s leadership, sonic boom suppression tech, and the aircraft’s sustainable design.
2. 📰 Aviation A2Z – “Concorde: First Supersonic Passenger Aircraft in the World to Return in 2026”
Details the June 6, 2025 signing of the “Concorde Bill,” the aircraft’s specs, and Dr. Churchill’s role in the revival.
3. ✈️ Travel Trade Journal – “Concorde Set to Fly Again by 2026 After U.S. Lifts Ban on Overland Flights”
Offers a comprehensive look at the regulatory breakthrough, aircraft innovations, and the legacy behind the relaunch.
Fred Roberts
09 July 2025 • 16:07Fly-Concorde Limited is a sham listing on UK Companies House.
Niall
10 July 2025 • 07:50Seems comments where the facts are presented contrary to this clickbait nonsense are unwelcome.
Tom Doenhoff
10 July 2025 • 19:05Of course there will be no return of Concorde (or any other supersonic passenger aircraft) in 2026. Use common sense, do you know how long it takes to get the required regulatory approvals?
Geoff
11 July 2025 • 21:19“Fewer” accidents
John Smith
14 July 2025 • 23:02Total shit piece of “journalism”, copying and pasting a press release of a sham company.
No, Molly Grace, supersonic planes will not make their first commercial flight in 2026. You clearly don’t have the faintest idea how the aviation industry works. Stick to knitting and cooking.
Comments are closed.