See the luxurious, heavily fortified presidential jets that world leaders use for official travel

Trump accepted the luxury business jet previously used by the Qatari royal family as a gift from Qatar in May 2025, saying he’d be “stupid” to turn it down. After the plane was retrofitted to serve as Air Force One, the aircraft became known as the VC-25B Bridge and will serve as an interim presidential aircraft until Boeing’s new VC-25Bs are delivered.

In its first few months flying the president, the VC-25B Bridge has been the subject of security concerns and operational mishaps, such as the accidental deployment of its emergency slide on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in September.

New VC-25B Air Force One planes, based on the Boeing 747-8i, are now expected to be ready by 2028 after years of delays. Boeing has already lost over $2 billion on the project due to various manufacturing and supply-chain issues.

US presidential jets are operated by the Presidential Airlift Group out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The Boeing VC-25A entered service as Air Force One in 1990. At 231 feet long, it can transport 30 crew members and 71 passengers.

There are two nearly identical Boeing jets that serve as the president’s official transport. Normally, the planes are referred to by their tail numbers: 28000 and 29000. When the commander in chief steps on board, they take on the call sign “Air Force One.”

The smaller C-32A normally serves as the vice president’s aircraft and can also be used by the president to travel to smaller airports that lack the infrastructure for the larger Air Force One jet.

In July, The Washington Post reported that Trump secretly departed Turkey in the C-32A amid a threat from Iran instead of either the VC-25A or VC-25B Bridge.

Until 2015, the UK prime minister chartered commercial jets for state visits.

The modified Airbus A330 was converted for VIP duties in 2015, but can still serve as a refueling tanker when not on state business. It is outfitted with 58 business-class seats.

In 2020, its gray Royal Air Force livery was repainted in white, with the Union Jack on the tail, a refurbishment that cost £900,000, or around $1.1 million, the BBC reported.

Nicknamed “The Flying Kremlin,” the Ilyushin Il-96-300 measures over 181 feet long and has meeting space and bedrooms, The National Interest reported.

The Russian president has also been known to fly on a fleet of smaller executive aircraft based on the Tupolev Tu-214 airliner. Tupolev TU-214s were designed as the Russian equivalent of the Boeing 757 and can carry around 210 passengers.

German leaders previously used modified Airbus A340-300 airliners for official travel, but they were withdrawn from service and put up for sale in 2024 after experiencing maintenance issues with German officials on board.

The German fleet also features several Airbus A320-family-based executive jets.

When carrying the president of France, the plane’s call sign is COTAM 001.

France’s broader government VIP transport fleet also includes Airbus A310s and A340s.

Designated as B-2479, the plane can fly 14,320 kilometers, or around 8898 miles, without stopping to refuel.

Japan’s former Air Force One plane, a Boeing 747-400, was listed for sale on an aviation classifieds site in 2019 for $28 million.

Leased from Korean Air, the plane uses the call sign “Code One” while carrying the South Korean president. It has been outfitted with office rooms, a bedroom, and additional security measures.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil switched from using a luxurious Airbus A319 corporate jet to the more utilitarian KC-30 after the presidential plane experienced a technical issue in 2024 while visiting Mexico, Reuters reported.

Brazil’s presidential fleet also features several domestically produced Embraer VIP transports.

The Canadian government bought the Airbus A330-200, known as the CC-330 Husky, from Kuwait Airways for $50 million in 2023, CBC reported.

Poland received its first Boeing 737 BBJ2 jet in 2021 featuring the serial number 0111 and nicknamed “Roman Dmowski” after the Polish politician, Key.Aero reported.

When carrying the prime minister, the plane is known as “India One.” It can fly for 13,500 kilometers, or around 8,388 miles, without refueling.

The fleet includes Airbus A330-200s, Airbus A340-500s, and a Boeing 747-8i private jet reportedly gifted to Turkey by the Qatari government, the BBC reported.

The plane is nicknamed “Chammae-1,” named after North Korea’s national bird, AP reported.

In June 2025, Iran’s presidential plane flew to Jordan accompanied by two Airbus A321s, The War Zone reported.

Australia’s KC-30A, a modified Airbus A330, features the gray Royal Australian Air Force livery with a kangaroo design.

The plane is known as “Wing of Zion,” with the registration “4X-ISR.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in April 2019. It was most recently updated in September 2026.