Aerospace Manufacturing
Supply Chain Issues Cited as Key Factor in Air Force One Program Delays

WEST PALM BEACH, FL—President Donald Trump will likely not get a new version of Air Force One before the end of his term in 2028.
The U.S. Air Force ordered two new presidential airliners from Boeing back in 2015, but the program has been subject to various delays ever since. The two current airplanes were delivered in 1990, and the cost of maintaining them is becoming prohibitive.
The first new Air Force One was originally slated for delivery in December 2024, but Boeing pushed its delivery off until at least 2027 or 2028. Now, White House officials report that new delays could push delivery of the first jet to 2029 or later, due to supply chain issues and changing requirements. Boeing says it has faced problems getting components since some of its suppliers have gone out of business.
Trump has been deeply engaged with the program since his 2016 presidential campaign. During his first presidential term, Trump renegotiated aspects of the contract with Boeing, and threatened to cancel the program if the overall cost exceeded $4 billion.
Now in his second term, Trump waded back into the issue on Feb. 15, when he toured a 12-year-old 747-8 aircraft at Palm Beach International Airport, near his Florida vacation home, to draw attention to the delays and get a better understanding of the configuration of the two new Air Force One jets. The 747-8 Trump toured was formerly owned by Qatar, but has since been rebuilt and now operates as a charter.Looking for a reprint of this article?
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