Boeing's $3.9B Air Force One Contract Swells to Over $5B, Delayed by 4 Years with No Delivery Date in Sight

Boeing announced on July 19 that the delivery target for two new U.S. Air Force One presidential aircraft remains set for 2028. However, achieving this timeline will require additional spending. The program has already been delayed by several years, with total costs exceeding the original budget by billions of dollars.

In 2018, Boeing secured a $3.9 billion contract to build the two aircraft, but costs have since ballooned to over $5 billion. These new planes are intended to replace the current Air Force One fleet, which has been in service since 1990.

Steve Parker, CEO of Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division, said in a media interview ahead of the Farnborough Airshow in the UK: "We are moving toward the 2028 target," and expects the first aircraft to begin testing next year. He added, "I anticipate some cost growth as we complete wiring, structural work, and our own certification processes."

In May 2025, the U.S. government accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar as a temporary presidential aircraft. This plane has already entered service as a transitional bridge. However, due to security concerns, former President Trump did not use this Qatari-provided aircraft to return home after a trip to Turkey, opting instead to fly back on the older Air Force One.

The Air Force One program involves modifying two Boeing 747-8 passenger jets into highly specialized presidential aircraft equipped with advanced communication systems and various defensive capabilities. Even if Boeing delivers on schedule in 2028, the program will still be four years behind the original timeline.

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