Luxury jet to start flights this year - it's nearly as fast as Concorde

A new luxury jet is set to start flights this year, and it's nearly as fast as Concorde.

Bombarbier, jet marker, has revealed its Global 8000 jet, which will have the capacity for 19 passengers, with four living spaces and two bathrooms.

It will reach speeds of Mach 0.94 (715mph), making it the fastest civil jet in the world. During testing, it broke the speed of sound, reaching Mach 1.015 (779 mph).

It won't be so fast as Concorde, which flew at double Global 8000's rate, at Mach 2.04 (1,565mph). It will pass the record of the Cessna Citation X+.

The Canadian jet will be able to take off from shorter runways at more remote airports due to its unique Smooth Flex Wing design. Bombardier has said they will be able to serve 2,000 more airports than its next competitor.

The company said the Smooth Flex Wing acts like an "in-air shock absorber", engineered to help dampen turbulence for the industry's smoothest ride and the best wet and dry runway performance.

"You can go from New York to London at speeds that haven't been experienced by a civilian since the days of Concorde," said Stephen McCullough, Bombardier's senior vice-president of engineering and product development.

The main room will have a full-sized bed, a wardrobe, six windows and a large TV. It will go into service in late 2025.

Emmanuel Bornand, Bombardier's vice-president of international sales, told SCMP that "the Global 8000 was designed with a mindset of delivering our clients the ultimate, no-compromise aircraft".

Bornand added: "There was a time in aviation when you had to make trade-offs - choosing between using smaller, more convenient airports, speed and range, or a more pleasant cabin experience versus faster flights on more turbulent wings.

"In the case of the Global 8000, you get it all. Bringing the best range, speed and ability to go to smaller airports with a four-zone cabin makes this aircraft unique."