President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Boeing due to significant delays in the delivery of the new Air Force One aircraft. Originally scheduled for completion in December 2024, the project has been postponed to at least 2027, with potential delays extending to 2029 or beyond. These setbacks are attributed to supply chain issues and evolving project requirements.
In response to these delays, President Trump stated, “I’m not happy with Boeing. It takes them a long time to do, you know, Air Force One. We gave that contract out a long time ago as a fixed price contract, and I’m not happy with the fact that it’s taking so long, and we may do something else.”
He suggested exploring alternative solutions, including acquiring used aircraft from other countries, though he dismissed the possibility of considering Airbus as an option.
To address the ongoing issues, Boeing has enlisted the assistance of Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg noted that “Elon Musk is actually helping us a lot in working through the requirements… so that we can move faster and get the president those airplanes delivered.” Despite these efforts, the project has already resulted in over $2 billion in losses for Boeing.
The Air Force One program, managed by Boeing, involves the development of two heavily modified 747-8 aircraft designed to serve as the presidential transport. These aircraft are intended to function as airborne command centers, equipped with advanced communications and security systems. The fixed-price contract, established in 2018, aimed to cap costs at $3.9 billion; however, unforeseen challenges have led to significant financial and scheduling setbacks.
