US President Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Boeing over the delayed production of two new Air Force One planes, which are now expected to be delivered in 2027 or 2028. The contract was negotiated during Trump’s first term and has already cost Boeing billions of dollars.
Trump made the comments while speaking on board one of the 35-year-old presidential planes currently in use. He stated that he is looking for alternatives due to the prolonged time taken by Boeing to complete the project. When asked if he would consider purchasing new planes from Airbus, a European rival of Boeing, Trump said he would not buy new planes directly but could purchase used planes and convert them.
Boeing’s delay comes despite Trump forcing the company to renegotiate its contract during his first term in office due to concerns over cost. The initial deal was deemed too expensive, and Boeing has since lost billions of dollars across multiple quarters. The production of Air Force One planes is a costly process, requiring highly classified and complex communication systems.
The delayed delivery follows Trump’s recent visit to a 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 at Palm Beach International Airport, which had been owned by the Qatari royal family. Last year was particularly challenging for Boeing, with the company losing $11.8bn (£9.4bn) across its entire 2024 fiscal period, marking its worst result since 2020 when the aviation industry faced significant disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkm71xme3xo