In what might be called a classic case of aviation overreach, the Swiss government is discovering that size does indeed matter—but not always in the way one might expect. The Federal Council’s shiny new Bombardier Global 7500 business jet, acquired for a cool 103 million Swiss francs (roughly $117 million), is proving to be something of an oversized headache for officials in Bern.
The prestigious aircraft, delivered with much fanfare in December 2024, was meant to be a symbol of Swiss efficiency and precision. Instead, it has become an ironic testament to the pitfalls of failing to measure twice before buying once. The jet, it turns out, is simply too large for the facilities at Bern-Belp Airport, where the Swiss government typically houses its official aircraft.
Like a luxury sports car purchased for a home with a tiny garage, the Global 7500 now sits at Payerne Air Base, some 40 kilometers from the capital. Swiss officials, presumably red-faced beneath their typically stoic exteriors, have been forced to admit that the aircraft won’t be able to call Bern home until a new hangar is constructed—a project that won’t be completed for another two years.
The situation veers further into the territory of bureaucratic comedy when one considers the operational limitations. The jet’s impressive 14,260-kilometer range—one of its key selling points—can’t even be utilized from Bern’s airport, as the runway is too short for takeoff with a full fuel load. This means that for any long-haul diplomatic missions, officials must first travel to Zurich or Geneva before boarding their state-of-the-art aircraft.
In a particularly telling incident earlier this month, a Swiss politician’s trip to South America highlighted yet another oversight. When the delegation needed to reach La Paz, Bolivia, they discovered that their multi-million-franc chariot lacked certification for high-altitude airports. The result? Part of the journey had to be completed on a regular commercial flight, shoulder-to-shoulder with ordinary citizens—a humbling experience for any government official.
The aircraft replaces the much smaller Cessna Citation Excel that served the Swiss government faithfully for two decades. While the older jet may have lacked the prestige and range of its successor, it did possess one crucial advantage: it actually fit in the hangar.
For now, the existing fleet, including a Dassault Falcon 900 and two Bombardier Challenger 604s, continues to handle official transportation duties while the Global 7500 awaits full certification and the installation of its self-protection system against portable air defense systems.
The Bombardier Global 7500 itself is no small matter in the world of business aviation. With a length of 33.8 meters and a wingspan of 31.7 meters, it’s designed to be the flagship of ultra-long-range private jets. Its four-zone cabin can accommodate up to 19 passengers in the utmost luxury, with amenities that include a full-sized kitchen and a dedicated crew rest area. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.925 and cruise at altitudes of up to 51,000 feet.
These impressive statistics, however, offer little comfort to Swiss officials who currently find themselves with a prestigious solution in search of a problem—or at least in search of a properly sized hangar. In the meantime, the Swiss government continues to showcase its famous pragmatism, utilizing scheduled commercial flights when necessary while waiting for their oversized symbol of prestige to become fully operational.
