aerospace
Comparing airfares instead of seat size fairer indicator of passenger carbon emissions
Newswise — Allocating passenger aircraft emissions using airfares rather than travel class would give a more accurate idea of individual contributions, finds a study led by UCL.
Emissions calculators base their estimates on travel class, assuming that someone travelling in a higher class and therefore taking up more space on the plane is responsible for more emissions.
The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, describes how including airfares in calculations shows which passengers contribute the most revenue to the airline operating the aircraft, thereby allowing the plane to fly.
Although in general, premium (business) seats are more expensive than economy, the researchers found when looking at data that many late bookings in economy class, often made for business trips or by high income travellers, cost as much as, or more than, premium seats.
Lead author Dr Stijn van Ewijk (UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering) said: “The paper shows we should follow the money when calculating emissions of individual travellers, as it is revenue that decides whether an airline can operate a plane or not. Someone who has paid twice as much as a fellow traveller contributes twice as much to the revenue of the airline and should be allocated twice the emissions. The seat size of each travel class, which is currently used to allocate emissions, is only a rough approximation of how much passengers pay.”
The researchers say that using airfares to calculate passenger emissions would benefit efforts to address climate change by encouraging people on all budgets to find alternative modes of transport where possible. It would also increase estimates of corporate emissions because it allocates more to expensive late bookings, which are often made for business purposes.
Implementing a tax that is proportionate to the price of the ticket could make the total costs of flying fairer. People buying the most expensive tickets would pay the highest tax, encouraging them to seek alternatives.
Whilst taxes differ between countries, typically the rates are the same across each travel class. Travellers buying expensive tickets, who are more likely to have higher incomes, pay a relatively low tax and are not currently discouraged from flying.
Dr Van Ewijk added: “An equitable approach to reducing airline emissions should not just deter travellers who can only afford the cheapest early bookings but also the big spenders who bankroll the airline. By assigning emissions based on ticket prices, and taxing those emissions, we can make sure everyone pays their fair share, and is equally encouraged to look for alternatives.”
A ticket tax should also take into account the distance flown and the model and age of plane, which can indicate how polluting it is.
The authors used a dataset from the USA to test their fare-based allocation approach. They used the Airline Origin Survey database, which includes ticket fare data, origin and destination, travel class and fare per mile. From this, they calculated the distribution of ticket prices across all passengers on a typical flight.
Based on the price distribution, the authors allocated emissions to passengers, and compared the results with estimates from widely used emissions calculators. Since ticket prices vary strongly by time of booking, the emissions per passenger varied too, far more than on the basis of seat size and travel class.
Using an economic supply–demand model, the researchers estimated how a carbon tax on emissions would affect travellers, depending on whether the emissions the tax applied to were calculated from seat size and travel class, or the airfare. In all scenarios, a tax on emissions calculated from airfares had a more equitable effect because it reduced flying more evenly across income groups.
The researchers hope to effect policy change in calculating and taxing passenger emissions, to ensure travellers on all budgets are encouraged to seek other forms of transport where possible or consider how essential the journey is.
Source: Dr Stijn Van Ewijk University College London
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aerospace
NASA’s “Flying Swordfish” Takes Flight: The X-59 QueSST Begins Its Quiet Supersonic Journey
NASA’s X-59 QueSST “flying swordfish” made its first test flight from Palmdale, California, marking a breakthrough in quiet supersonic technology designed to reduce the sonic boom and reshape the future of air travel.
NASA’s experimental X-59 QueSST, also known as the “flying swordfish,” has officially made its first test flight, marking a major milestone in the future of quiet supersonic travel. Developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin, the sleek, needle-nosed aircraft lifted off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, on October 28, 2025, and safely landed at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.
While the maiden flight was subsonic, reaching speeds of around 230 miles per hour at 12,000 feet, it successfully demonstrated the aircraft’s fundamental systems and stability. Future test flights will push the X-59 to supersonic speeds, where NASA will evaluate its ability to drastically reduce the loud “sonic boom” to a soft “sonic thump.” The ultimate goal of the Quesst program is to pave the way for regulations that could one day allow commercial supersonic flights over land, revolutionizing air travel as we know it.
(Sources: Live Science, NASA, Lockheed Martin)
The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/
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Taking Off: Archer Aviation’s Bold Move Brings Flying Taxis Closer to LA28
Archer Aviation’s LA airport acquisition could make flying taxis a reality just in time for the 2028 Olympics.
Last Updated on November 9, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Image Credit: Archer Aviation
From Olympic Dreams to Take-Off Plans
Back in our feature “Flying Taxis and Olympic Dreams: Will LA28 Be the Jetsons Era in Real Life?” we explored whether Los Angeles could become the first city to showcase flying taxis on the global stage during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Now, that futuristic vision has gained some serious thrust. Archer Aviation — one of the leading players in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft — has announced a major move that could change how the city thinks about air mobility.
Archer Takes Control of Hawthorne Airport
In a landmark deal, Archer announced plans to acquire control of Hawthorne Airport — just three miles from LAX — for approximately $126 million in cash.
The 80-acre site, home to 190,000 square feet of hangars and terminal facilities, will become the company’s operational hub for its Los Angeles air-taxi network and a testbed for AI-driven aviation technology.
Alongside the purchase, Archer raised an additional $650 million in new equity funding, bringing its liquidity to more than $2 billion — a strong signal that the company is serious about turning concept into concrete.
What This Means for LA’s Mobility Future
This isn’t just a real estate move. It’s a strategic infrastructure play.
If Los Angeles is to handle Olympic crowds and long-term congestion, new vertical mobility hubs are essential. Hawthorne could serve as the first of several vertiports forming a network across the metro area.
It also puts Archer in a prime position to work alongside city planners and mobility partners preparing for the LA28 Games — potentially transforming how visitors move between venues, airports, and downtown.
Caution: Not Quite “Jetsons” Yet
While this progress looks promising, it’s not smooth skies ahead just yet.
FAA certification remains the biggest hurdle; only about 15% of compliance documentation has been approved. Production and scaling still pose risks — building and maintaining a fleet of electric aircraft at commercial levels isn’t cheap. Public acceptance will matter too. Even the quietest aircraft need to earn the city’s trust for noise, cost, and safety.
Still, compared to even a year ago, the vision of air taxis over Los Angeles feels far less like science fiction.
A Step Toward the Olympic Future
Archer’s move aligns perfectly with the question we raised earlier:
Can Los Angeles turn the 2028 Olympics into a showcase for sustainable, futuristic transportation?
By securing its own hub near LAX and backing it with fresh capital, Archer seems determined to make that answer a yes. Whether passengers will be hailing flying taxis in time for LA28 remains uncertain, but the groundwork — both financial and physical — is clearly being laid.
The skies over LA might just get busier — and cleaner — in the years to come.
Related Reading
- Flying Taxis and Olympic Dreams: Will LA28 Be the Jetsons Era in Real Life?
- Archer To Acquire Los Angeles Airport As Strategic Air Taxi Network
- HubTokyo Selects Archer’s Midnight Aircraft for First eVTOL Implementation Program
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Boom Supersonic’s Overture: Supersonic Travel in the Making (2025 Update)
Boom Supersonic’s Overture jet is bringing back supersonic travel, with major airlines onboard and commercial flights targeted by 2029.
Last Updated on October 18, 2025 by Daily News Staff
The dream of passenger supersonic flight is getting closer to reality. Boom Supersonic has scored several key technical, regulatory, and business milestones in 2025. But as with any ambitious aerospace project, challenges loom. Here’s where things stand now—and what to watch going forward.
📰 Headlines You Should Know
In January 2025, Boom’s demonstrator aircraft XB-1 successfully broke the sound barrier (Mach ~1.1) during a test flight over the Mojave Desert.
In February, Boom officially announced “Boomless Cruise”, meaning that Overture is being designed to fly up to Mach 1.3 over land without producing an audible sonic boom at ground level.
On June 6, 2025, a presidential executive order effectively repealed the long-standing U.S. ban on supersonic flight over land, instructing the FAA to adopt updated noise limits rather than blanket prohibitions.
Boom has selected the Colorado Air & Space Port (near Aurora, CO) for its Symphony engine test facility.
In July 2025, Boom awarded a patent to its Aircraft Systems Director (Jim Senerth) for a “parallel power source system” to support large electrical power needs on future aircraft.
Boom remains active in recruiting: it made a visible push at the 2025 AIAA Aviation Forum, highlighting engineering roles in its supersonic program.
🛠 Technical & Program Status
XB-1 Goes Mach 1
XB-1 Demonstrator: Mission Accomplished
The XB-1 test program is effectively complete. It proved that Boom’s design and sonic-boom models (especially for boomless cruise) are viable in real flight conditions.
The fact that XB-1’s supersonic runs did not generate audible sonic booms that reached the ground is a key enabler for overland routes.
Overture: Design & Business Assumptions
Overture is planned to cruise at Mach 1.7, carrying 60–80 passengers over a range of ~4,250 nautical miles.
Boom claims compatibility with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aiming to pair speed with lower lifecycle emissions (relative to legacy approaches).
The order book (including firm orders and pre-orders) sits around 130 aircraft among United, American, Japan Airlines (and possibly others).
The Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, NC, is built and intended to scale up to producing 66 Overture jets per year.
Symphony Engine Development
The Symphony turbofan is central to Boom’s claims: it must enable sustained supersonic cruise and boomless operation.
The engine is in development, with additive manufacturing (3D printing) being used to produce critical core parts (compressor, combustor, turbine).
Boom expects to begin producing “thrusting cores” in full-scale testing by the end of 2025.
🏛 Regulation & Market Landscape
The June 2025 executive order removing the overland supersonic ban is a potential game-changer. It opens up many more route possibilities within the U.S. and globally, assuming stringent noise limits can be met.
Regulatory and certification risk remains significant. Even with favorable policy, Overture must satisfy FAA, EASA, and other jurisdictions’ airworthiness and noise standards. (Forecasts of program outlook caution that these remain major hurdles.)
Competitors are emerging internationally—China’s Comac C949 is being developed as a supersonic airliner (though it is in early stages).
✔ What’s Next: Key Milestones to Watch
Symphony engine thrust core tests (late 2025) — critical engineering moment
Final design freeze for Overture — when the aircraft’s shape, systems, and structure are locked
First Overture flight (planned ~2027)
Certification (FAA / EASA) and commercial launch (projected ~2029)
Route announcements and airline deployment plans
Market response and economics — will the speed premium be enough to support ticket pricing, fuel burn, maintenance, etc.
⚖️ Strengths & Risks
Strengths / Tailwinds
Real demonstration with XB-1 giving credibility to the concept
Favorable U.S. regulatory shift enabling overland supersonic
Strong airline interest (United, American, JAL)
Focus on sustainability via SAF and modern materials/engineering
Factory and supply chain investments already underway
Risks / Headwinds
Certification is notoriously difficult, especially for novel supersonic aircraft
Engine performance, thermal loads, and materials remain major engineering challenges
Noise limits and regulatory standards across multiple countries may differ
The business model must balance speed premium vs cost, fuel, maintenance
Timeline risk is high — delays, cost overruns, or technical setbacks are common in aerospace
As Boom finalizes its Superfactory in North Carolina and ramps up testing of its proprietary Symphony engines, the future of faster-than-sound flight is once again within reach.
Read more about this aviation breakthrough on STM Daily News.
Related Links:
Reuters – Boom Supersonic XB-1 Breaks Sound Barrier Over Mojave Desert
The Guardian – Supersonic Prototype Jet Breaks Sound Barrier on US Test Flight
AP News – First Independently Developed Jet Breaks the Sound Barrier
FlightGlobal – Supersonic Overture Beckons as Boom Concludes XB-1 Test Programme
WSJ – New York to Paris in Under Four Hours? Inside the Effort to Build the Next Concorde
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