Take a look inide the US$218 million Boeing 787 private jet AMLO refused to use

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  • Mexico has finally sold its presidential Boeing 787 private jet, which it purchased for $218 million in 2012.
  • The now-depreciated plane will be repainted in California before being delivered to Tajikistan in Central Asia.
  • The “ostentatious” Dreamliner was sold because the Mexican president refused to use it.

Mexico has finally gotten rid of its unwanted presidential plane.

Mexico's presidential Boeing 787 VIP aircraft.
Mexico’s former presidential Boeing 787 aircraft.Mariana Bae/Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Source: AP


In mid-April, Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the nation’s VIP Boeing 787 private jet had been sold to Tajikistan for $92 million.

President the Andrés Manuel López Obrador sitting onboard the 787 next to an unnamed official.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (right) sitting onboard the 787.Presidencia de la República Mexicana

Source: AP


The Dreamliner started its journey to the Central Asian nation on Friday, first flying to Tucson, Arizona, for customs clearance, per the Mexican government. The jet will then travel to California for a new paint job.

FlightRadar24 flight of Mexico's former presidential plane from Mexico City to Tucson.
Nomadic Aviation Group managed the transfer.FlightRadar24

Source: FlightRadar24Mexican Government


According to López Obrador, the price tag reflected the jet’s depreciation. Speaking in Veracruz on April 21, he said the money will be used to build two new hospitals in the Mexican cities of Tlapa and Tuxtepec.

The Mexican presidential plane departing Mexico City.
The Mexican presidential plane departing Mexico City.Presidencia de la República Mexicana

Source: Flight GlobalAviacionline


“Wow, it was difficult for us to find a client,” he said. “We are like the nouveau riche, who buy a yacht or an airplane like this, and are only happy the day they launch it and the day they sell it.”

Mexico's presidential jet.
Pilots in the cockpit of the VIP Boeing 787.Marco Ugarte/Associated Press

Source: Mexican GovernmentAndrés Manuel


Mexico’s fancy presidential jet was purchased for $218 million in 2012 by then-president Felipe Calderón as a replacement for the country’s aging VIP Boeing 757.

Mexico's presidential Boeing 757 parked with a Turkish Airlines behind it.
Mexico’s former presidential Boeing 757.Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images

Source: CNN


But, it wasn’t delivered until 2016 — after he left office — and fell into the lap of Calderón’s successor, Enrique Peña Nieto, who was the president before López Obrador.

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto leaves the 787 plane upon arrival at the CATAM military airport in Bogota, on August 6, 2018.
Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto leaves the 787 plane upon arrival at the CATAM military airport in Bogota, on August 6, 2018Diana Sanchez/AFP via Getty Images

Source: CNN

The 80-seater plane — which is actually one of six 787 test aircraft built by Boeing — was equipped with a presidential suite, complete with a private office, shower, meeting room, king-sized bed, and treadmill…

The private suite with a guard standing next to a king-sized bed onboard the former Mexican VIP Boeing 787.
The private bedroom onboard the VIP Boeing 787.Marco Ugarte/Associated Press

Source: Insider,



…as well as conference tables and large reclining seats each with an inflight entertainment system, according to the Mexican government.

Mexico's presidential jet with green and grey chairs in a quad-style arrangement around tables.
Inside the VIP Boeing 787.Marco Ugarte/Associated Press

Source: InsiderMexican Government

But, López Obrador says the jet’s lavish decor was purchased during a “paranoiac” era and is an “insult” to Mexico’s people: “Not even Obama has a plane like this one.”

Brown tables and grey loungers inside Mexico's former VIP Boeing 787.
Inside Mexico’s former VIP Boeing 787.Marco Ugarte/Associated Press

Source: Insider

Because of this, he deemed the “ostentatious” plane too luxurious to fly in and instead regularly flies commercial.

President López Obrador on a commercial flight.
President López Obrador on a commercial flight.Marco Ugarte/Associated Press

Source: Flight Global

Moreover, he criticized his predecessor Peña Nieto for spending $19 million on travel from 2012 to 2015 — López Obrador only spent $1 million from 2018-2021, Forbes Mexico reported.

Enrique Pena Nieto with first lady Angelica Rivera Hurtado in front of the Boeing 787, with guards.
Enrique Pena Nieto with first lady Angelica Rivera Hurtado in front of the Boeing 787.Presidencia de la República Mexicana.

Source: Forbes Mexico


Source: Business Insider

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