Future of travel: these five planes could change everything

The future of air travel is set to change forever with the advent of a new era of high-powered jetliners.

The ability to travel farther and faster while burning less fuel has long been a pipe dream for the aviation industry – but that could all be about to change.

The National looked at some of the new planes that are expected to be at the forefront of the next generation of flight.

Boom Supersonic Overture

The Oregon-based company Boom Supersonic is set to release the Overture in 2026. The aircraft can fly at twice the speed of sound, at Mach 2.2, but is expected to be limited to subsonic speeds of about 1,125kph over land.

It will be the first civilian supersonic jet since Concorde was retired almost 20 years ago.

The company has promised that ticket prices would not be much higher than those of a typical seat in business class.

The planned interior of the Boom with a distinctive 1+1 single aisle configuration. Courtesy: Boom Supersonic

The Overture will be able to fly from Tokyo to Seattle in four and a half hours, cutting four hours off the usual time.

A trip from Los Angeles to Sydney could be completed in eight and half hours with the Overture, instead of the standard 14.5 hours.

Its range is 8,300 kilometres.

Maveric by Airbus

The suggestion that Airbus has created a plane that looks like it belongs in a futuristic version of Top Gun will not be allayed by its name – Maveric (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls).

The plane, which is two metres long and 3.2 metres wide, has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent in comparison with current single-aisle aircraft.

The Maveric is designed to hold hundreds of people but experts predict a wait until 2035 before aircraft using this design are in regular use.

It is currently in the development phase but a remote-controlled prototype took flight for the first time in June last year.

The “blended wing body”, which resembles a giant bat, opens new possibilities for propulsion systems.

“Airbus is leveraging emerging technologies to pioneer the future of flight. By testing disruptive aircraft configurations, Airbus is able to evaluate their potential as viable future products,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, executive vice president of engineering with Airbus.

“Although there is no specific time line for entry into service, this technological demonstrator could be instrumental in bringing about change in commercial aircraft architectures for an environmentally sustainable future for the aviation industry.”

Airbus A220-500

The Airbus A220-500 is expected to make travelling in economy class a whole lot more comfortable.

Expected to be released in the second half of this decade, the A220-500 boasts seats at least 46cm wide, has a 2x3 seating layout and can hold 150 passengers – significantly more than existing A220s, which hold 100.

The new model also offers larger windows and spacious overhead lockers.

The A220-500 will consume less fuel than other short-haul planes, which will make brief flights more appealing to environmentally conscious passengers.

Boeing 777X

Boeing claims its new 777X will be the “world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, unmatched in every aspect of performance”.

Lufthansa will launch the jet into service in 2022, two years after it was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Inside the Boeing 777X. Courtesy: Boeing

The 777X will carry between 384 and 426 passengers in a multi-class layout.

The aircraft will also feature dimmable windows, wider cabins and larger overhead lockers.

Expect to see this plane become a regular feature at Dubai International Airport because Emirates has ordered 150 777Xs, worth more than $83 billion. The aircraft are expected to seat 426 passengers and have a range of 13,500km.

Airbus A321XLR

Airbus’ A321XLR will be able to fly just under 8,700km non-stop. A third fuel tank means it can fly for up to 10 hours without needing to refuel, almost double the duration of other narrow-bodied planes.

Airbus says the aircraft, expected to be released in 2023, operates with a 30 per cent reduction in fuel burn per seat.

The A321XLR has a top speed of 876kph.

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FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).

FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.

FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.

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With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.

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The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)

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if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).

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Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif

Based: Manama, Bahrain

Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation

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