WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will fly from Turkey to Britain on an older Air Force One plane, an unexpected switch that raised questions about a retrofitted Boeing 747 donated by Qatar that he unveiled just weeks ago as his new presidential jet.
The trip to Turkey was the first international journey for the new aircraft.
The switch follows months of scrutiny of the luxury gift, which is meant to serve as a temporary replacement as Boeing struggles to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.
Critics questioned the cost, safety and pace of retrofitting.
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 the UK while the new plane visits the same base so US service members stationed there can tour the plane.
The new plane is a Boeing 747 that Qatar gave to the US last year and converted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
The jumbo jet has been painted in a red, white, dark blue and gold color chosen by Trump, marking a departure from the long-standing design used on Air Force One for decades.
The acceptance of the Qatari jet had attracted a lot of attention. Retrofitting the luxury jet 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 increased security risks. The upgrades were completed so quickly that some experts expressed concern that the plane may not be as safe as the existing Air Force One aircraft.
Another plane that can double as Air Force One is always on standby during the president’s trips.
The Air Force’s rush to ready the jet skipped some planned changes originally envisioned for the next-generation presidential jet in order to deliver an interim version more quickly.
Officials have said the plane still meets the president’s standards, and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the service was “carefully evaluating all requirements” as they worked to expedite delivery.
The Qatari jet is serving as a bridge aircraft while Boeing works to deliver two custom-built 747-8s under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018.
That program is now four years behind schedule, with delivery not expected until mid-2028, a delay that could leave Trump without a new, American-built plane before his term ends in January 2029.
The cost of the Boeing program has grown to more than $5 billion, with the company reserving billions of dollars in fees tied to the project.
