Qatar’s $300,000,000 Boeing 747 gift to US so huge it was used for key airport test in Italy
Published on Nov 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Nov 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Emir of Qatar’s private Boeing 747 is so massive that Italy literally used it in a key airport test.
Before being handed over as a massive $300 million gift to the United States, the aircraft helped certify Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport’s runway for heavy, long-haul traffic.
It’s the same 747-8 once owned by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and it’s basically a flying palace.
The Boeing 747 has quickly turned into a talking point among aviation fans, thanks to how helpful and prestigious it is.
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A Boeing 747 so good it was used to test an airport in Italy
There’s something spectacular about this colossal Boeing 747 8 BBJ airplane that touched down in Sardinia, Italy, as part of a full-scale test of Olbia’s newly extended runway.
At 76 meters long with a wingspan of nearly 68 meters, the aircraft weighs close to 450 tons when fully loaded, so if this thing can land there safely, anything can.
The test assessed everything from pavement strength and taxiway geometry to lighting and safety systems, effectively proving the airport could handle the world’s heaviest luxury aircraft.
It’s a surreal image: a one-of-a-kind royal jet zooming down an Italian runway just to make sure the tarmac is good and safe enough.
From flying palace to tarmac tester to American power symbol
Soon after its time as a flying guinea pig, the jet made even bigger (air)waves when reports confirmed it had been gifted to the United States by Qatar.
Valued between $300 million and $400 million, the aircraft has been rumoured to join the US presidential fleet as a future Air Force One.
Inside, it’s no less impressive, with lavish staterooms, private lounges, gold finishes, and technology worthy of a flying palace.
It’s the plane equivalent of a custom hotel, except this one can cross continents nonstop and potentially shut down an airport while it’s at it.
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
