Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Sep 5: US President Donald Trump is expected to use the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar for upcoming domestic and international travel as delays continue to affect the delivery of the next Air Force One aircraft, The Washington Post reported.
The Qatar-gifted aircraft is likely to be used for several upcoming trips, including Trump's visit to Texas next week for a Republican Party mini-convention in Dallas. He is also scheduled to travel to Alaska for a campaign stop and later to Ireland for the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg.
The move follows a security incident in Turkey in July, when Trump was attending a NATO summit in Ankara. Amid an Iranian assassination threat, the president was covertly transferred from the ageing Air Force One aircraft to an alternative military plane.
The Boeing aircraft being prepared to replace the current Air Force One fleet is yet to receive several upgrades required before it can enter service. Trump has indicated that the aircraft would undergo further modifications, with the work expected to begin in October and take around 60 days.
The Qatari aircraft has already undergone a retrofit estimated at around $400 million but will require additional modifications in the coming months to meet the requirements for presidential travel.
The use of the aircraft has sparked controversy over the acceptance of such a costly gift from a foreign government. Questions have also been raised over the prolonged delay in replacing the current Air Force One fleet.
Boeing was awarded a contract in 2017 to build two new 747 aircraft for presidential use. However, the planes have yet to enter service, and uncertainty remains over whether they will be delivered before the end of Trump's current term in 2029.
Meanwhile, the estimated cost of upgrading Boeing's replacement aircraft has risen to more than $5.6 billion, according to the US Government Accountability Office. Lawmakers have questioned the sharp increase in costs, particularly in comparison with the expense of retrofitting the Qatar-gifted aircraft.
The issue has also raised concerns about presidential security. The Trump administration has maintained that the Qatari aircraft can meet the necessary security requirements and provide safe and reliable transportation for the president and his staff.