This is one of the features jointly produced in the former Czechoslovakia. The airliner seen at the end of the cartoon has similar red markings to the then flagship carrier, Ceskoslovenské Aerolinie.
The jet age (and missions to the stars) were the topic of the day when this short was released. So having a supersonic avian was a logical character choice here.
Tom actually makes sounds in this cartoon, which is a rarity for him.