World’s fastest private plane cleared for takeoff at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga

The world’s fastest business jet, which travels at just below the speed of sound, has been officially cleared for takeoff at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

Described earlier this year by its creators as the “ultimate time machine” and “fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde,” Bombardier’s Global 8000, with its promised top operating speed of Mach .95 (about 1,164 km/h), got the long-awaited go-ahead on Wednesday for full production. 

Built at Montreal-based Bombardier’s new $670-million state-of-the-art Aircraft Assembly Centre at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga, the new private jet is on track to be in widespread service within the next month or so, officials with the Canadian aviation firm said. 

Bombardier said in a news release the Global 8000 has been awarded Transport Canada Type Certification, “paving the way for entry into service this year.”

Company officials said certification from the U.S.-based Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency will follow.

What began as a vision is now a reality. The world's fastest business jet, our Bombardier #Global8000, is officially certified by @Transport_gc, paving the way for entry-into-service this year . #CatchTheMach pic.twitter.com/zZFTjND1vq

— Bombardier (@Bombardier) November 5, 2025

The new Bombardier business aircraft, also said to be the world’s longest-range private jet, successfully completed its inaugural flight earlier this year (see video below). At that time, it was being marketed with a top operating speed of Mach .94 (about 1,151 km/h). Mach 1, the speed of sound, is measured at around 1,234 km/h.

More recently, though, the world’s fastest private jet got even faster — with Bombardier officials unveiling the new top speed (Mach .95) for the Global 8000 last month in Las Vegas at the National Business Aviation Association convention and trade show.

In making that announcement, they noted Mach .95 is the “highest speed in civil aviation,” making the company’s new flagship aircraft “the fastest business jet in history.”

The new jet “went supersonic”

Bombardier also points out that while the top operating speed of the Global 8000 is slightly less than the speed of sound, the jet “went supersonic in testing” — exceeding the speed of sound — when it was still in development.

During a test flight in May 2021 observed by a NASA-operated Boeing F-18 fighter, the new Bombardier private jet broke the sound barrier when it recorded a speed of Mach 1.015, or 1,243 km/h.

“Bombardier has worked rigorously and collaboratively with Transport Canada toward certification for the Global 8000. This marks a pivotal milestone for Bombardier, our customers and the entire business aviation industry — solidifying the Global 8000’s position as the unrivaled leader setting a new standard,” Stephen McCullough, Bombardier’s senior vice president, engineering and product development, said this week. “This milestone is a powerful testament to the exceptional talent and dedication of our engineering, test and production teams. It showcases their deep expertise and unwavering commitment — qualities that are embedded in Bombardier’s DNA and are the heartbeat that drives everything we do for our valued clients.”

In addition to its top speed, the Global 8000 offers the ability “to fly customers farther, faster than any competing four-zone business jet in the industry,” Bombardier said. 

At $78 million apiece and with room for 19 passengers, the new jet will whisk passengers around the world featuring a range of 14,816 kilometres (9,206 miles/8,000 nautical miles).

Company executives note the range of their new flagship business aircraft enables “nonstop travel between more city pairs than ever before.

“In addition to its long-range capabilities, the aircraft remains remarkably agile, with takeoff and landing performance comparable to that of a light jet,” officials continued, also noting the Global 8000’s “advanced wing design featuring unique leading-edge slats enables customers to master 30 per cent more airports than its closest rival.”

The Global 8000’s first flight

In May of this year, the Global 8000’s first journey (see video above) took it from Pearson Airport to Waterloo, Ontario. During the brief trip, the aircraft “executed a series of tests, part of the production flight test procedures,” the company said at the time. “All flight controls were exercised on the aircraft, and the systems and aircraft performed as expected.”

Officials said shortly after that initial flight the new production jet would travel to Bombardier’s aircraft completion centre in Montreal where the final interior touches were to take place ahead of its planned entry-into-service the second half of 2025.

Bombardier said earlier the Global 8000 is the “evolution” of its successful Global 7500 aircraft, which entered into service in 2018. Additionally, company officials noted, it’s the “fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde.”

The new jet is expected to have a significant impact on business travel and is further described by Bombardier as “the ultimate time machine, unlocking more routes than ever before including Dubai to Houston, Singapore to Los Angeles, London to Perth and many others.”

(Photo: Bombardier)

Fastest business jets in the world

Online aviation firm Simple Flying earlier listed the fastest private jets in the world.

On the heels of Bombardier’s new Global 8000 are the Gulfstream G700 jet and another Bombardier aircraft, the Global 7500. Both reach speeds of Mach .925

By comparison, the world’s fastest commercial planes check in at maximum speeds of about Mach .85, or 1,049 km/h.

Bombardier’s 770,000-sq.-ft. Global Manufacturing Aircraft Assembly Centre, the largest standalone structure to be built at Pearson Airport in more than 20 years, according to airport officials, began operating at full capacity in early 2024 and replaced the former final assembly plant in Downsview. 

The Global 8000 during production. (Photo: From Bombardier video)