President Trump could start flying in a plane donated by Qatar as early as this summer, as the U.S. Air force confirms it will deliver the refurbished jumbo jet for use as Air Force One within months.
“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 Wednesday, confirming a report by The Wall Street journal.
The royal family of Qatar donated the Boeing 747-style plane for Mr. Trump’s use last spring. The plane could not enter service immediately, though, as the Pentagon needed to retrofit it to serve as Air Force One. It also needed to be checked for security and spying devices before it was accepted, a source told CBS News at the time.
The donated plane could take the place of two 35-year-old jets that currently serve as Air Force One. Mr.Trump has long pushed to replace the aging planes, but a project to replace them has faced delays, with delivery of two new planes currently set for 2027 and 2028.
The existing planes showed their age late Tuesday, when Air Force One turned around less than an hour after taking off.