THE SPEED OF SOUND

Two decades after the final flight of the Concorde, the supersonic travel industry is going through an exciting reawakening.

- ASHIMA SETHI

In today's fast-paced world, time has become an increasingly valuable commodity. It's no surprise then that news of supersonic travel being poised to make a comeback in the foreseeable future slashing flight times in some cases by four- has been welcomed by travellers and the airline industry alike, making dreaded long-haul flights possibly a thing of the past. But what's the latest, and when can we expect to get a taste (again) of crashing through the sound barrier?

The Concorde was a supersonic passenger jet jointly developed by British and French aerospace companies, British Aerospace and Aérospatiale, in the 1960s. It made its first commercial flight in 1976 and became an icon of aviation with its sleek design, and ability to travel at speeds of up to Mach 2.04 (2,519 km/h) and at altitudes of around 60,000 feet.

This significantly reduced flight times, so much so that you could get from London to New York in less than three hours. Those who experienced a trip on the Concorde have detailed how opulent the experience was - from start to finish. As the aircraft could only fit 100 passengers, tickets were significantly more expensive than an average first-class ticket on any other airline, ranging from US$ 6,000 to US$ 12,000.

The experience began in a dedicated lounge where passengers were encouraged to mix and mingle, which led to the actual in-flight experience doubling as a 'social club in the sky', complete with gourmet meals cooked on board and free-flowing Champagne. Passenger lists were also dominated by royalty, heads of state, celebrities and socialites, who opted to fly the Concorde to attend transatlantic appointments over the course of just one day.