Last August, the Boeing 747-8, used by the Qatar royal family and similar to the one that the Emir of Qatar gifted President Donald Trump, proved a nightmare for air traffic controllers at Palma airport. Often described as ‘palaces in the sky’, they are reserved for Qatar’s ruler, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his immediate family and one of them has been “gifted” to President Trump to replace Air Force One.
And now, the luxury Qatari plane being transformed into a new Air Force One will be delivered this summer, the Air Force has said in a statement, roughly a year after its extensive modification began.
“The Air Force remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the Presidential airlift mission, with an anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026,” an Air Force spokesperson told CNN on Thursday.
It’s unclear if the plane will be immediately operational once it is delivered, or if more testing would need to be conducted before it is fit to fly for the president. The Wall Street Journal first reported the delivery date of this summer.
The Boeing 747, which Trump described as a gift from Qatar, requires extensive modifications to meet Air Force One’s security and intelligence standards. The aircraft must be almost completely dismantled and rebuilt with advanced communications, protection and capabilities such as in-flight refuelling.
An agreement signed last year states that the donation of the aircraft was unconditional and that the United States will not pay Qatar anything, although the conversion is expected to cost around £300 million. Boeing is continuing the refurbishment of two other 747s for the same purpose. Just this week, an electrical problem forced the presidential aircraft to return to its base, and Trump had to continue his journey in another aircraft.