Bombardier’s Global 8000 ultra-long-range (and ultra-fast) business twinjet has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, formally clearing the way for customer deliveries in the US, the world’s biggest market for business aviation.
The approval, announced on December 19, 2025, marks a significant milestone for Bombardier’s flagship model, which entered service earlier this month following Transport Canada type certification on November 5. Certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency remains pending.
With a top speed of Mach 0.95, the Global 8000 is now the fastest civil aircraft to enter service since the retirement of Concorde in 2003. It also offers a range of 8,000 nautical miles, allowing nonstop flights between more city pairs than any other competing business jet.
FAA certification caps more than a decade of development and flight testing and positions Bombardier to begin delivering the aircraft to eager US-based customers. The first Global 8000 was delivered on December 8 to Canadian entrepreneur Patrick Dovigi, replacing his Global 7500.
Beyond headline speed and range figures, Bombardier is emphasizing comfort and operational flexibility as key differentiators. The Global 8000 features the lowest cabin altitude of any production business jet, measuring just 2,691 feet while cruising at 41,000 feet, making for a less fatiguing journey.
The aircraft’s wing design plays a central role in its performance profile. Equipped with advanced leading-edge slats, the Global 8000 is able to access shorter runways and operate from a wider range of airports than its closest competitors, despite its size and range. Bombardier says the jet can serve up to 30% more airports than comparable aircraft in its class.
Power comes from GE’s Passport 20 engines, each producing 19,000 pounds of thrust. While the Passport engine was originally certified in 2018, GE modified it to support the Global 8000’s higher speed and extended range. The engine recently received European approval, helping clear one of the remaining hurdles toward full EASA certification of the aircraft.
The Global 8000 program builds on the success of the Global 7500, which remains one of the most widely used ultra-long-range business jets in service. During flight testing, a Global 8000 test aircraft briefly exceeded the speed of sound under controlled conditions.