In the first term of his presidency, Donald Trump had grand plans for a significant overhaul of Air Force One.
However, aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing has indicated that the proposed upgrades may not be completed until the tenure of his successor.
As reported by Raw Story, the delay in Boeing's delivery schedule has reportedly been a source of immense frustration for the President-elect. Trump, who had taken a keen interest in the refurbishment of Air Force One, was reportedly irate upon learning that he might not have the opportunity to utilize the revamped aircraft personally.
Trump had awarded Boeing a hefty $3.9 billion contract for the production of two new 747-8 jets, complete with a fresh paint job and a fully modernized interior. The initial delivery timeline was set between 2026 and 2027. However, Boeing has now stated that the updated presidential jet will not be ready until 2029, well after the conclusion of Trump's potential second term.
Boeing expressed its commitment to the project, stating, We take pride in this work. Our focus is on delivering two exceptional Air Force One airplanes for the country. However, this assurance did not placate Trump, who reportedly "demanded answers" from Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg in a November phone call. The President-elect is also said to have persistently sought updates from his staff regarding the readiness of the planes before his term ends.
The Telegraph described the new jets as an "extension of the Oval Office," once the upgrades are complete. The aircraft will be equipped with boardrooms, meeting rooms, military-grade avionics, and self-defense systems. An anonymous Air Force spokesperson told Raw Story that an update on the delivery timeline is expected in the spring of 2025.
The delay in the production of the new generation of Air Force One may be attributed to a seven-week strike by Boeing's employees that concluded in November. The Seattle-based company's operations were significantly disrupted after 33,000 machinists went on strike over wage negotiations. The machinist union's members eventually agreed to a contract that would see their wages increase by 38% over the next four years. This labor dispute, coupled with the ambitious nature of the project, has contributed to the extended timeline for the delivery of the revamped presidential aircraft.
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