On Tuesday, the company revealed private aircraft operator NetJets will be the fleet launch customer of the Global 8000, which will be the world's new fastest business plane.
Expected to enter service in 2025, the jet will steal the speed crown from the 12-seater Cessna Citation X+, which can fly up to Mach 0.935.Textron Aviation ended production of the Citation X+ in 2018 to avoid overlap with its super mid-sized Citation Longitude.
The jet builds on the success of its predecessor, the Global 7500, which currently holds the title of the world's largest and longest-ranged purpose-built private aircraft, reaching Mach 0.925 and flying up to 7,700 nautical miles (8,861 miles).NetJets' Global 7500.
NetJets has placed a firm order for four Global 8000 aircraft, valued at $312 million. According to Bombardier, each jet is priced at $78 million — $3 million more than the Global 7500.
Patrick Gallagher, NetJets' president of sales, marketing, and service, told Insider that demand is up 35-40% and inventory for fractional ownership of its aircraft, which allows several people to share the cost of owning and chartering a NetJets plane, is sold out through 2023.Bombardier CEO Éric Marte and NetJets president of sales, marketing, and services at the delivery ceremony of the company's first Global 7500 in December 2021 in Montreal, Canada.
"There's a huge amount of people who weren't flying private before, but have the means to," he said. "But the pandemic unlocked a large portion of that demand and we've seen a record number of people inquiring to become a NetJets customer."Atlantic Aviation is one of NetJets preferred fixed-based operators, where it receives services like fueling, in many cities.
NetJets
The charter company plans to eventually have 24 Global 8000s, which includes converting its eight future Global 7500 deliveries to the new flagship plane and retrofitting its in-service 7500s to 8000s, Gallagher told Insider.NetJets Global 7500.
In total, NetJets operates over 850 aircraft worldwide, including the Embraer Phenom, as well as Cessna Citation and Bombardier Challenger variants.A NetJets' Embraer Phenom 300E.
The Global 8000 has already begun flight testing with one Global 7500 testbed breaking the sound barrier during a flight in May 2021, repeatedly reaching Mach 1.015.Bombardier Global 7500 demonstration aircraft.
The new plane will compete with the Gulfstream G800, which will match Bombardier's flagship jet in terms of range but still lag behind in terms of speed at Mach 0.925.The G800 can fly up to 8,000 nm at 0.85, and up to 7,000 nm at 0.90.
The rival jet is expected to enter service in 2023, which is two years before the Global 8000 is set to hit the market.The Gulfstream G800 test plane at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2022.
In addition to record-breaking performance, the Global 8000 will also boast the lowest cabin altitude in its class at 2,900 feet, which Bombardier equates to walking through Yosemite National Park.
Gallagher told Insider that the interior of the company's future Global 8000 will mirror NetJets' current Global 7500 configuration to maintain consistency across the fleet.Inside NetJets' Global 7500.
Specifically, there are four distinct living spaces, including a meeting room with two sets of loungers…Bombardier's rendering of its Global 8000 cabin.
An ensuite bathroom with a sink and toilet connects to the bedroom. An optional shower can be added to the space, though NetJets does not have one.Bombardier's rendering of its Global 8000 cabin.
According to Bombardier, the plane features the industry's largest kitchen, complete with convection ovens, a sink, and a refrigerator.Bombardier's rendering of its Global 8000 cabin.
The front of the plane also has a small lavatory and a dedicated crew rest area. In total, the jet can carry up to 19 people.The crew rest area.Bombardier's rendering of its Global 8000 cabin.
The Global 8000 also hosts an exclusive "nice touch" cabin management system that allows customers to adjust the settings throughout the jet, like lighting and temperature.Bombardier's rendering of its Global 8000 cabin.
Bombardier has also launched its "executive cabin" option exclusively for its Global 7500 and Global 8000 planes, which will feature three workspaces and is intended to be a corporate office in the sky.Bombardier's rendering of its Global 8000 executive cabin.
Bombardier
Although many private charter companies may not adopt the configuration, it may prove to be a good option for corporations buying private jets for company travel.The Nuage Cube is a multi-purpose piece of furniture that can be used as a footrest, stool, or small table, and has been introduced as part of the executive cabin.
Bombardier
As far as the cost per hour to charter a Global 8000, NetJets declined to share pricing.Inside NetJets' Global 7500.
However, according to private charter company Liberty Jet, which was founded on cost transparency, the price to operate a Global 8000 is about $9000 per hour.
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