How Fast Was the Concorde Jet?

The Concorde jet could reach a maximum cruising speed of 2,179 km (1,354 miles) per hour, or Mach 2.04 (more than twice the speed of sound). This supersonic speed allowed it to significantly reduce travel time, making it possible to fly from London to New York City in about three hours. By comparison, a modern commercial airliner, such as the Boeing 777, takes about eight hours to cover the same distance.

The Concorde, built jointly by aircraft manufacturers in Great Britain and France, was the first supersonic passenger-carrying commercial airplane. It made its first transatlantic crossing on September 26, 1973, and entered regular service in 1976. Despite its technological innovations, the Concorde was never commercially successful, and British Airways and Air France stopped using the aircraft in 2003.