US officials have bid farewell to one of the two aircraft used for transporting presidents for more than three decades, sparking speculation that a Qatari-donated Boeing 747 may soon enter service as its replacement.
White House officials posted farewell messages on Thursday after the jet returned from the G7 summit in France.
The messages fuelled discussion about whether a Boeing 747 gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar is set to become operational.
“‘Well done, good and faithful servant. The Last Ride,’” Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung wrote on X, alongside an image of the white-and-blue aircraft.
US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley also shared a photo of the same aircraft at Joint Base Andrews near Washington.
“I was honoured to be aboard Air Force One last night on its final flight,” she said.
“For nearly 40 years, it carried every President since George H W Bush. It wasn’t the most modern plane, but it was cozy. And every flight with President Trump was incredibly special. Farewell and thank you.”
The aircraft is one of two heavily modified Boeing 747s, known as VC-25A models, that entered service in 1990. They are designated Air Force One when the president is on board.
The White House did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
However, US media reported that Trump is considering taking the new Qatari aircraft on its first official flight when he travels to Mount Rushmore next month for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The US Air Force said in May that the Qatari aircraft had completed flight testing and was nearing operational readiness. It said the plane was on schedule to appear in a new red, white and blue livery this summer.
On Thursday, the US Air Force confirmed to AFP that the Qatari aircraft, known as the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, will join the executive airlift fleet alongside the VC-25A and C-32.
The C-32, also known as “Baby Air Force One,” is a modified Boeing 757 used for shorter runways.
Qatar’s donation of the aircraft, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, has triggered ethical and constitutional concerns over presidential gifts from foreign governments. It has also raised security questions about using a foreign-donated aircraft as the presidential jet.
Air Force One aircraft are widely reported to carry advanced defence systems, including radar-jamming technology, infrared countermeasures, chaff dispensers and flares designed to mislead missiles.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in replacing the ageing presidential aircraft since his first term. He has even kept a model of the redesigned jet on display in the Oval Office.
He said last year that rejecting the Qatari gift would be “stupid” and criticised the condition of the existing aircraft. The Pentagon formally acquired the aircraft last year.
Trump has also said the Qatari plane would eventually be placed in his future presidential library as an exhibit.
Meanwhile, the US government has contracted Boeing to deliver two new 747-8 aircraft for presidential use. However, the programme has faced delays and cost overruns.
