Since the sad end of the Concorde program in 2003, no supersonic airliner has taken to the skies. Despite promises of a successor to the iconic delta-winged aircraft emerging almost weekly, only military pilots even come close to breaking the sound barrier she over 20 years.

Until now, that is, after Canadian businessman Patrick Dovigi took delivery of his Bombardier Global 8000 – the fastest and most luxurious private jet ever built, with a nominal top speed of 630mph.

And during a test flight off the coast of California late last year, the Global 8000 exceeded its rated speed and briefly went supersonic, reaching Mach 1.02, just over 780mph.

The Global 8000 is not only fast, but versatile. Bombardier say the plane’s Advanced Smooth Flex Wing allows access to 30% more airports than competitors – allowing the jet to land at notoriously tricky small airports such as Samedan, in the Swiss Alps.

So far, Dovigi’s Global 8000 is the only example in service, and with the price of a fully kitted-out version exceeding $100million (£75m), it’s likely to remain a rare sight as it flits between luxury resorts and major business locations worldwide. 

The Bombardier Global 8000 could make the journey from London to New York in about five hours – shaving three hours off the time that trip would take in a commercial airliner. With a range of 8,000 nautical miles the luxury jet is capable of a round trip from London to Vancouver without refuelling.

At the moment, though, Dovigi is limited to the skies above Canada. While the aircraft has still to be cleared to fly commercially by US and European regulators, Bombardier says that both approvals are expected in early 2026.

Describing it as “the ultimate business aircraft” that “exceeds expectation in every way”, Bombardier chief executive Eric Martel says the Global 8000 “is redefining the business aviation landscape with its innovative design, signature smooth ride, unmatched performance and a promise fulfilled to our customers”.

Not only does the plane’s extreme speed minimise jet lag, but the cabin pressure – which at the equivalent of 2,691ft means it puts little more stress on the body than standing at the top of a tall building – ensures that passengers will reach their destination feeling far fresher than travellers on commercial airlines.

With 4 separate living spaces and a separate crew rest area, Global 8000 owners will be able to find a little peace as they fly, too.

The Global 8000’s flexible wings will act as shock-absorbers, smoothing out a good deal of the bumps from turbulence, and with a maximum service ceiling some 10,000ft higher than most standard commercial flights it can skim above most bad weather.

While there is currently only one Global 8000 in service, owners of the 2000 or so previous models, the Global 7500, can potentially upgrade their old jets for the comparatively trivial cost of $3million (about £2.3m).