$400M Boeing given by Qatar to USA will have to be stripped of its luxury and have $1 billion spent on it
Published on Jun 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Jun 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The $400 Boeing that was given by Qatar to the USA will have to be stripped of all its luxury and have $1 billion spent on it to get it up to scratch.
The luxury jet is set to serve as Air Force One in the US, but to do so, it will need specialist equipment aboard.
The Boeing jet was a gift from Qatar, with a royal interior that boasts the look of an expensive mansion.
But, it’s not just money that needs to be spent, time is at stake too.
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Luxury jets can come in all different shapes and sizes.
From small Cessnas to huge Boeings, the opportunities to cruise high in the skies are in abundance.
For example, one man took a look inside the ‘Rolls-Royce of aviation,’ a $78M private jet that is like a sky mansion for billionaires.
Plus, a Texas designer transformed a Boeing Business Jet 787-8 from a flying palace to something even more profound.
But, when it comes to overhauling business jets and making them into a brand new paradise in the sky, one plane is in for a treat.
It was recently announced that the Qatari royals were to gift the US a Boeing 747 to be used as the new Air Force One.

Air Force One is used to transport the President of the US anywhere in the world where his presence is required. But as you can imagine, the plane needs to be specially equipped in case of threats.
Or even just to get the job done and house staff and officials appropriately.
“The onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and Air Force One is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States,” states the White House.

As it was previously used by Qatar, the plane is very luxurious inside, with an interior fit for a king, but that will have to go to make way for upgraded security measures.
And, they are set to come with a hefty price tag attached.
According to Reuters, ‘it’s probably less than $400 million to retrofit that aircraft,’ Air Force One, Air Force Secretary, Troy Meink, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.”
Additionally, “Democratic lawmakers have said it could cost more than $1 billion to retrofit the plane.”
Plus, the price tag amounts to time too, with the refitting reportedly taking a fair bit of time to complete.
The 747-8 is set to serve the skies in the US, but the aircraft isn’t even the most expensive gift that the Qatari royals have given.
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