Trump Considers Changing Course on Air Force One Upgrade as Boeing Drags Its Feet
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is now exploring the possibility of acquiring pre-owned Boeing aircraft—potentially from an international seller—to serve as Air Force One while he is on board. This consideration comes in response to delays by the U.S. aerospace manufacturer in delivering two customized planes for presidential travel.
Speaking to journalists aboard one of the two aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft currently in operation, Trump stated, “We’re looking at alternatives because it’s taking Boeing too long.”
“We may go and buy a plane,” Trump said, elaborating that he could then “convert it.” He later clarified that while he was open to purchasing a second-hand Boeing jet, he was ruling out the option of acquiring an Airbus, the European competitor that is the only other producer of large wide-body aircraft. “I would not consider Airbus. I could buy one from another country perhaps or get one from another country.”
Boeing is under contract to develop upgraded versions of the aircraft, using the more advanced Boeing 747-8 model. However, production setbacks have resulted in significant financial losses for the company. The original deal was negotiated during Trump’s first term in office, but delivery has been continually delayed.
The primary cause of the delays is not the aircraft themselves but the extensive modifications required to meet the unique demands of presidential travel, including top-tier security measures. Trump had already eliminated the requirement for the new fleet—designated as the VC-25B—to have air-to-air refueling capabilities, a feature that was integrated into the existing VC-25A planes designed during the Cold War.
Additional modifications include highly classified communications systems tailored for the nation’s leader, security reinforcements to handle various threats, and built-in air-stairs, which enable landings in remote locations without infrastructure support.
Originally, the first aircraft was slated for delivery in 2024. However, the timeline has shifted, with the U.S. Air Force now projecting the arrival of the first plane in 2027 and the second in 2028—Trump’s final year in office.
On Saturday, Trump inspected a newer Boeing 747-800 to evaluate its modern technology and hardware while emphasizing the delays in Boeing’s fulfillment of the Air Force One contract. According to the White House, Trump viewed the 13-year-old private aircraft, previously owned by the Qatari royal family, while it was stationed at Palm Beach International Airport.
The New York Times initially reported that Trump was considering the acquisition and modification of pre-owned aircraft to replace the current presidential planes.