The world’s largest private jet operator this week added the world’s fastest business jet to its fleet as premium travel inches toward a return to supersonic speeds.
NetJets on Thursday took delivery of its first ultra-long-range Bombardier Global 8000 at the manufacturer’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Dorval, Quebec. NetJets plans to build a 24-strong fleet of the aircraft, which received Transport Canada and FAA certification in late 2025. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) followed suit in January.
Bombardier claims the aircraft is the fastest civil model since Concorde was retired in 2003. It has a top speed of Mach 0.95 or about 627 mph, typically cruising closer to Mach 0.85. Capable of flying up to 8,000 nm, the model is one of the world’s rangiest.
Per the manufacturer, it also boasts the lowest cabin altitude of any business jet—2,691 feet while flying at 41,000 feet. Typical cabin altitude for a business jet falls within the range of 3,000 to 6,000 feet, rising to 5,000 to 8,000 feet on commercial flights.
Days before receiving FAA certification for the Global 8000 in December, Bombardier announced its first delivery to a Canadian business owner. NetJets, though, is the model’s fleet launch customer.
“We are proud to be the first to bring this remarkable aircraft to our fleet,” said Patrick Gallagher, president of NetJets, in a statement. “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.”
NetJets’ 2022 order includes four Global 8000s valued at $312 million at the time, as well as eight conversions of existing Bombardier orders. Its planned fleet also includes Global 7500s already ordered in service that will be upgraded to the new flagship model. NetJets will be able to exercise a series of options to grow the fleet further in the coming years.
What NetJets Customers Are Getting
The Global 8000 can move passengers more rapidly than any competitor, beating out the Cessna Citation X+ and Gulfstream G650, which have top speeds of Mach 0.935 and Mach 0.925, respectively.
It is powered by a pair of specially designed General Electric Passport engines, each producing 18,920 pounds of thrust. Range is about 8,000 nm at the aircraft’s typical Mach 0.85 cruise speed, falling to 4,200 nm in ultra-high-speed cruise mode at Mach 0.92.
The Global 8000’s 5,670-foot takeoff and 2,220-foot landing distances are comparable to light jets. Leading-edge slats combined with the Global 7500’s Smooth Flex Wing—designed for high speed and range as well as low-speed maneuverability—lower its runway requirement, which per Bombardier enables operations out of 30 percent more airports than its closest competitor.
Billed as the “only true four-zone business jet,” alluding to its four separate living spaces, the Global 8000 accommodates up to 19 passengers. Bombardier claims it has the longest seated length in its class. Cabin amenities include the manufacturer’s air purification system and a circadian lighting system designed to combat jet lag.
The Global 8000 adapts the 7500’s Bombardier Vision flight deck, comprising fly-by-wire technology, side stick controls, and four avionics displays.
The model’s introduction continues the trend of faster, rangier business jets entering the market. Gulfstream in 2025 made the first delivery of its G800, which can cover about 8,200 nm cruising at Mach 0.85, while Dassault earlier in March unveiled its Falcon 10X, with a top speed of Mach 0.925 and range of 7,500 nm.
