Boeing Could Speed Up Air Force One Delivery as Trump Weighs Qatari Gift

Manufacturer is seeking to modify the requirements for its modified 747-8 jets to deliver them before the end of president’s second term.

Monday, May 12, 2025 at 03:46 PM ET

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President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One, a modified Boeing 747-200 referred to by the military as VC-25A [Credit: Shutterstock/Evan El-Amin]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's project to deliver new Air Force One jets is significantly delayed, now estimated for 2027 from an original 2024 target, and has incurred over $2.5 billion in losses for Boeing, frustrating President Trump.
To address the delays, Trump is considering accepting a luxurious 747-8 gifted by Qatar's royal family to serve as an interim Air Force One, to be modified by L3Harris.
The proposed Qatari gift has drawn scrutiny, including accusations of violating the Emoluments Clause, due to its foreign origin and planned transfer to Trump’s presidential library foundation.
The Air Force is working with Boeing to modify project requirements to potentially accelerate the official jets' delivery, with high-level interventions including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

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Boeing could modify the requirements for a pair of 747-8 jets it is transforming into presidential transport aircraft in order to deliver them before the end of President Donald Trump’s term, amid his public and private frustrations with the project.

During a hearing on Wednesday, Darlene Costello, principal deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics, told lawmakers that Boeing’s most recent estimate places delivery of the Air Force One replacements in 2027. That’s an improvement from previous estimates of 2028 or 2029 but still far behind the original 2024 target.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.