Flying from London to New York in an hour could become a reality with the new hypersonic aircraft patented by Airbus.

The US Patent and Trademark Office has approved an application for an "ultra-rapid air vehicle and related method for aerial locomotion" submitted by the French aircraft manufacturer, said a report in The Independent.

Airbus’ proposed model features a jet engine that involves turbojets, ramjets, and a rocket motor which could propel the aircraft to speeds twice as fast as the Concorde – roughly around 5,500 km per hour, the report said.

Currently, a traditional commercial aircraft takes around seven hours to travel between the two cities.

The new hypersonic jet could dramatically cut short other long haul journeys as well, with the Paris to San Francisco journey (currently an 11-hour flight) being possibly completed in three hours.

Reports stated that the ultra-rapid air vehicle would target mainly business travel and VIP passengers, as well as the military.