Gulfstream G700 Reclaims Speed Record from Bombardier Global 8000
Gulfstream's G700 retakes the LA-to-Farnborough ultra-long-range speed record. Meanwhile, fractional operators are blending ownership with on-demand charter as cabin tech gets a major upgrade.
By Henry Ashcombe
Gulfstream's G700 has retaken the LA-to-Farnborough ultra-long-range speed record from Bombardier's Global 8000, shaving 19 minutes off the previous mark set just ten days earlier. The two manufacturers are now locked in a friendly speed-record duel as both flagship models enter service and establish their market credentials.
Gulfstream G700 reclaims LA-Farnborough speed record from Global 8000
The G700 set a new time of 10 hours, 15 minutes covering 5,450 nautical miles nonstop from Los Angeles to Farnborough, UK. Bombardier's Global 8000 had held the record for just ten days before Gulfstream's aircraft took it back. Both aircraft are optimized for long-range transatlantic and transpacific missions, and the speed-record competition highlights the performance ceiling each manufacturer is pushing in the ultra-large-cabin category, according to Gulfstream and aviation publications tracking the records.
Embraer Phenom 300E maintains 13-year run as best-selling light jet
Embraer's Phenom 300E locked down its 13th consecutive year as the world's best-selling light jet in 2025, with 72 deliveries. The company is targeting 75–80 Phenom 300E deliveries in 2026, maintaining its lead in a segment where lightness, efficiency, and cabin comfort drive adoption by fractional operators and charter fleets.
Fractional owners are blending ownership with on-demand charter for flexibility
In a new strategy gaining traction in 2026, many fractional shareholders are keeping their ownership stakes while adding on-demand charter access, using fractional for routine trips and charter for last-minute, international, and special-requirement flights. Charter and fractional together now account for over 55% of private-jet activity in North America—up from 43.7% in 2012—marking a structural shift in how operators think about access and flexibility.
Textron Citation Gen3 family ramping into production
Textron Aviation's Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 is entering production in 2026, targeting 40–45 deliveries this year. The CJ3 Gen3 and M2 Gen3 variants will follow in 2027. The new generation brings cabin comfort and avionics upgrades across the light-jet lineup, a refresh that comes as Embraer and Bombardier continue to push their portfolios.
Thales debuts 4K OLED in-flight entertainment for business aircraft
At Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026, Thales unveiled FlytEdge Aura, a new cabin-connectivity platform featuring 4K HDR10+ Tandem OLED displays, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0. The system promises six times faster performance than prior generations, addressing a key demand signal from fractional operators and charter fleets seeking premium cabin connectivity and real-time passenger engagement.
Bombardier Global 8000 begins customer deliveries
Bombardier's first Global 8000 customer delivery marks the start of service entry for the manufacturer's flagship ultra-long-range jet. The aircraft is competing directly with Gulfstream's G700 and G800 in the premium, ultra-distance market segment.
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