WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will fly from Turkey to Britain on an older Air Force One plane, an unexpected change that raised questions about a modernized Boeing 747 donated by Qatar that he unveiled just weeks ago as his new presidential plane.
The trip to Türkiye was the new plane’s first international trip.
The change comes after months of scrutiny over the luxury giveaway intended to serve as a temporary replacement as Boeing struggles to deliver the long-delayed next-generation Air Force One jets.
Critics questioned the cost, safety and pace of modernization.
Trump said on Truth Social that he would use an older Air Force One plane “for old times’ sake” to fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain while the new plane visits the same base so that U.S. service members stationed there can tour the plane.
The new plane is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar last year and refurbished by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
The jumbo jet has been painted in Trump’s chosen colors of red, white, dark blue and gold, marking a departure from the long-standing design used on Air Force One for decades.
The acceptance of the Qatari plane had come under scrutiny. The modernization of the luxury plane required security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent eavesdropping and missile defense capabilities, experts said.
Democratic lawmakers estimated the conversion cost more than $1 billion and posed security risks. The upgrades were completed so quickly that some experts expressed concern that the plane would not be as safe as the existing Air Force One.
A second plane that can operate as Air Force One is always available during presidential trips.
The Air Force’s accelerated effort to prepare the plane skipped some planned modifications originally intended for the next-generation presidential plane in order to deliver an interim version sooner.
Officials have said the plane still meets presidential standards, and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the service “meticulously evaluated every requirement” as it worked to expedite delivery.
The Qatari aircraft serves as a bridge plane as Boeing works to deliver two specially designed 747-8s under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018.
That program is now four years behind schedule and is not expected to be delivered until mid-2028, a delay that could leave Trump without a new U.S.-built plane before his term ends in January 2029.
Boeing program costs have risen to more than $5 billion, and the company has booked billions of dollars in charges tied to the project.
