The first Bombardier Global 8000 business jet has been delivered to fractional ownership operator NetJets, which plans to build a fleet of 24 of the type.
The handover took place at Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre, Canada with NetJets serving as the fleet launch customer for the aircraft. The company intends to upgrade its entire in-service Global 7500 fleet to Global 8000 jets, with options to expand the fleet further in the coming years.
The Global 8000’s wing design uses leading-edge slats that Bombardier says enable operators to land at 30% more airports than the aircraft’s closest rival, the equivalent of more than 2,000 additional destinations. According to the OEM, the wing design enables superior short-field performance, lower landing speeds, and steeper glide slopes comparable to those of a light jet.
With a range of 9,206 miles (14,816km) – equating to approximately 16.75 hours of flight – and a top speed of Mach 0.95 (627mph/1,009km/h), Bombardier describes the Global 8000 as the fastest civil aircraft since Concorde. The four-zone cabin is the only one in its class to offer that range, enabling nonstop travel between more city pairs than previously available on a business jet.
The aircraft also features a cabin altitude of 2,691ft (820m), the lowest in business aviation production according to the manufacturer along with Bombardier’s Pür Air system and Soleil circadian lighting, both designed to reduce the effects of jet lag on passengers.
Patrick Gallagher, president of NetJets Aviation, said, “The range and features of the Global 8000 aircraft perfectly align with NetJets’ commitment to offering safety, service, and access at an extraordinary level and empowering Owners to do more and miss less.”
