The $300,000,000 Qatari Boeing 747 could replace aging Air Force One as soon as this summer
Published on Jan 22, 2026 at 3:38 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 22, 2026 at 3:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The Boeing 747 gifted by the Royal Family of Qatar to the US may replace Air Force One as early as this summer.
It’s the $300,000,000 aviation gift that has made headlines across the world.
There’s been a lot of speculation about when this Boeing 747 would be taking the place of Air Force One, but many had put its delivery date far into the future.
But a new update from the US Air Force indicates that it could be ready much sooner.
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Inside the $300 million Boeing 747 gifted to the US
When you think of the US President, Air Force One often isn’t far behind in our collective imaginations.
It’s the plane that carries him around the world as he meets with heads of states and dignitaries.
But in the last year or so, there’s been a ton of headlines about how President Trump is accepting a $300 million Boeing 747 from the Qatar Royal Family.
A lot has been written about this plane, which is understandable – just look at its stunning interior.
This is a plane worth making a big deal about.
As recently as October 2025, it was reported that the plane was undergoing its transformation in Texas.
For a long while, it was assumed that this plane would take years to complete.
But now, it’s being reported that President Trump could be flying in this plane as early as summer 2026.
US Air Force gives update on the Boeing 747
“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 said.
This follows on from reports in December that the US authorities were fast-tracking conversion of the plane.
Air Force One is currently made up of two planes, and they’ve been showing their age – one experienced a ‘minor electrical issue’ after taking off for Switzerland, causing it to turn around and land, CBS News reported.
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Why Air Force One is an iconic plane
For as long as there have been big planes, US Presidents have been flying in them.
And some of them are still around for us to enjoy.
Just take a look at Ronald Reagan’s, which is a time capsule perfectly encapsulating the 1980s.
And there’s the plane that President Kennedy flew onboard, which just seems to go on forever.
We’re all a little curious about what the new Air Force One is going to look like when it’s done.
And if recent reports are anything to go by, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
