Air Force One is among the world’s most famous planes, used as the primary presidential aircraft for the United States. And the current 35-year-old Boeing 747-200B, used by the US president, is about to get an upgrade courtesy of the Qatari royal family, which has offered to gift President Donald Trump a $400-million Boeing 747-8. Described as a “palace in the sky”, the 13-year-old jet will be remodelled extensively to ensure it is able to serve the needs of the US government, while it awaits its long-delayed order of two new Boeing 747-8s, expected to enter service no earlier than 2026.
Despite heavy criticism from opposition and supporters alike, Trump has announced his intention to accept the gift, calling it a very “transparent transaction” on his Truth Social platform: “So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a gift, free of charge, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, top dollar, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”
From its unique features to how many bedrooms it has, this is what’s on board Donald Trump’s new Air Force One, and everything else you need to know about the world’s largest private jet.
What do we know about Qatar’s ‘flying palace’?
The split-level Boeing 747-8 in question is 13 years old and has been used privately by the Qatari royal family. Dubbed the world’s largest private jet, the aircraft is capable of carrying up to 90 passengers and 14 crew – a much smaller number than the 460 passengers commercial 747s are capable of carrying.
Its interiors, designed by French interior design firm Alberto Pinto Cabinet, are decked out in opulent shades of cream, brown and gold, with plush lounge seating, leather recliners and wide-screen televisions lining gleaming wooden walls.
