US President Donald Trump announced on July 8, 2026, that he would fly from Turkey to Britain on an older Air Force One aircraft rather than the newly unveiled Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar. This unexpected decision raised questions about the retrofitted Qatari jet, which Trump had introduced only weeks earlier as his new presidential plane.

The trip to Turkey marked the first international journey for the new Boeing 747, which was donated to the US by Qatar last year and refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. The jumbo jet features a distinctive red, white, dark blue, and gold livery chosen by Trump, departing from the traditional Air Force One design used for decades.

Trump explained on social media that he would use the older Air Force One “for old time’s sake” to fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. Meanwhile, the new plane would visit the same base to allow US service members stationed there to tour the aircraft.

The switch comes after months of scrutiny regarding the luxury gift, with critics questioning the cost, security, and pace of the retrofit. The Qatar-donated plane was intended as a temporary replacement while Boeing continues to face delays in delivering the next-generation Air Force One planes.

Sources