Bombardier Aerospace marked entry-into-service of its flagship Global 7500 in a ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Dorval, Quebec, on December 20. David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, told the more than 1,000 employees and well-wishers on hand that the aircraft—the largest and longest-range purpose-built business jet, according to Bombardier—is “the gateway to transforming the business aviation landscape.”

The first production 7500, C-FXAI, on display at the ceremony, was purchased by Jetcraft and Stonebriar Commercial Finance and will be leased by Bombardier for a demonstration tour to commence in early 2019. Bombardier plans to deliver 15 to 20 Global 7500s in 2019, with three to five built in the first half of the year. Bombardier Aerospace president and CEO Alain Bellemare said that rate would double in 2020 “to 35 to 40.” Bombardier does not disclose order numbers, but Coleal said the aircraft is now selling into 2022.

Announced in 2010 as the Global 7000 (along with a planned Global 8000), the aircraft was rebranded as the Global 7500 to reflect the increased range (7,700 nm) at EBACE in 2018, in conjunction with the introduction of the Global 5500 and 6500. Asked about the Global 8000, Coleal called it “a program of record” and said the company would “look to see what the market wants with the aircraft” once Bombardier catches up with the Global 7500 backlog.