Bombardier Inc. is extending the range of its marquee business jet to 7,700 nautical miles, unseating the Gulfstream G650 as the long-distance champ of the private-aircraft industry.

The 300-mile improvement for the Global 7000 means the plane will be able to whisk passengers from New York to Hong Kong, or Singapore to San Francisco, Bombardier said in a statement Sunday. A flight-test program with five aircraft has demonstrated the added reach, the company said.

The extra range gives Bombardier bragging rights over the G650 on flying distance as well as size, both of which are crucial selling points for the well-heeled customers who buy the planes. Bombardier chief executive officer Alain Bellemare is counting on the Global 7000 to generate the lion’s share of his targeted $3.5-billion increase in annual sales of private jets by 2020 — a key component of his turnaround plan for the debt-laden company.

“There’s a significant, almost endless desire for more range, more luxury and more space among business-jet buyers,” said David Tyerman, an analyst at Cormark Securities. “We saw that with the G650, and the Global 7000 takes it yet another step further. Every time a manufacturer comes out with a product that’s more capable, there seems to be a market that we didn’t know existed.”

Luxury battle

Flight testing now exceeds 1,800 hours for the Global 7000 and the plane has reached a top speed of Mach 0.995, just short of the sound barrier, Bombardier said Sunday. The aircraft, with a sticker price of $72.8 million, is sold out through 2021, according to the company.

The Montreal-based manufacturer still has a long way to go as it tries to catch up to the coveted G650, which lists for $69.4 million and has dominated the upper echelon of corporate jets since its debut five years ago. Gulfstream, a unit of Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics Corp., has delivered 300 of the planes.

Bombardier announced plans in November to hire about 1,000 people to work on the Global 7000 at its Montreal completion centre. The company is still looking to fill about 500 of the jobs. The jet is assembled at Bombardier’s Downsview factory in Toronto.

Canada’s biggest aerospace company invested $1 billion last year alone in developing and producing the Global 7000, with total cost of the project amounting to “a few billion dollars,” Bellemare said in an interview in December.

by Frederic Tomesco and Thomas Black</s>MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/15/18 -- Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

Bombardier is proud to reveal that its marquee Global 7000 business jet, having completed multiple long-range flights around the world, now boasts an outstanding range of 7,700 nautical miles, connecting more city pairs than any other business aircraft.

"We are thrilled to offer this extended range to our loyal customers, who are the driving force behind our engineering feats and who will soon own an aircraft that simply has no peer," said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "Not only are we standing by our commitment to begin delivering Global 7000 aircraft this year, we are exceeding expectations along the way."

The new 7,700-nautical-mile baseline range will be a feature on the Global 7000 aircraft for all existing and future customers. This enhanced performance will come at no additional cost to customers.

The Global 7000 aircraft, the most spacious and longest range business jet ever built, is on track to enter service during the second half of 2018. The flight test program is progressing to plan, with all five test vehicles in flight. The flight test program, which began in November 2016, has completed more than 1,800 hours of flight testing and is currently finalizing certification for the aircraft.

With a maximum operating range of 7,700 nautical miles, the Global 7000 aircraft can fly farther than any other business jet. The aircraft was widely publicized as being able to connect some of the world's most expansive city pairings, including such routes as New York to Shanghai, and Singapore to Seattle. Today, Bombardier can confirm that with its extended range, the Global 7000 aircraft is the only business aircraft that can connect New York to Hong Kong, and Singapore to San Francisco.(i)

The success of the Global 7000 flight test program speaks to the spirit of innovation at Bombardier, and to the hard work that has resulted in significant milestones along this aircraft's journey toward entering service.

Just five months into testing, this high-speed aircraft set a record as the largest business jet to operate so close to the sound barrier, reaching a milestone top speed of Mach 0.995.

And while the Global 7000 flight test vehicles are outperforming expectations in the skies, interior completions work on our customer aircraft is well under way at Bombardier's state-of-the-art facilities in Montreal.

With its four true living spaces, the Global 7000 aircraft is unique among business jets in spaciousness, luxurious comfort and design flexibility. Its leading-edge cabin entertainment system, coupled with ultra-fast connection speeds via Ka-band, allows passengers to stream high-definition content and enjoy a reliable entertainment experience. The Global 7000 aircraft's modern and multi-functional kitchen features unprecedented storage space for an exceptional dining experience.

With over 69,500 employees across four business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in 28 countries across the segments of Transportation, Business Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft and Aerostructures and Engineering Services. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Bombardier posted revenues of $16.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Bombardier announces an increase in range for the Global 7000 business aircraft to 7,700 nautical miles, surpassing the Gulfstream G650 as the longest-range private jet.