Former President Donald Trump is preparing to receive a custom-built, luxury jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. This jet will be used as Air Force One. This decision follows Boeing’s extensive delays in updating two 747 planes. We shouldn’t expect to see those upgrades finished before at least 2027.
Trump managed to lock in a contract in his first term to modernize the Boeing 747s to serve as Air Force One. After months of constant delays, he is looking beyond the program for solutions to presidential air travel. In a statement reflecting his dissatisfaction with Boeing’s progress, Trump said, “We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something.”
The planned acceptance of the Qatari jet aligns with Trump’s upcoming foreign trip to the Middle East, which includes a scheduled stop in Qatar. The trip will be the first international trip of his second term of office. In February, Trump toured a Qatari 747 at Palm Beach International Airport, further solidifying his interest in utilizing the luxury aircraft for presidential duties.
Boeing’s been pretty busy already on their end to get the two 747s outfitted and modernized. The new Air Force One jets are currently slated to be delivered in 2027. The deadline has already sent waves of panic throughout Trump’s White House. Finding themselves in a bind, they had the brilliant idea of using the Qatari jet as a replacement.
Acquiring a new commercial Boeing 747-800 isn’t cheap either, at about $400 million apiece. Thus, continuing to accept the luxury jet from Qatar is a smart financial strategy. This alternative allows Trump to avoid the multi-year wait now inevitable thanks to Boeing’s delays. It makes sure that he has a functional aircraft available for his international engagements.
So as Trump sets out across the country, his administration seems determined to leave no stone unturned in making sure Air Force One is properly stocked. Trump takes the Qatari jet to maintain intercontinental presidential travel standards. Further, he understands that these standards are important to Americans as well as folks around the world.
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