The Boeing 747-8, an opulent version of the aircraft manufacturer’s largest passenger jet, has been on the market without a buyer since 2020, according to aviation experts and listings. Originally built for Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Qatar’s former prime minister, the jet was delivered in 2012 with a $367 million price tag—excluding its ultra-luxurious interior, which was likely worth tens of millions more. Designed by Paris-based Cabinet Pinto, the cabin features exotic wood finishes, silk fabrics, two bedrooms, and spaces for entertainment and meetings, accommodating up to 89 passengers.
Despite its lavish features, the aircraft hasn’t sold in over four years. Qatar’s Amiri Flight, which manages the royal fleet, still operates similar aircraft—though some are now inactive.
In 2018, a comparable 747-8 was gifted to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after it too failed to find a buyer. Aviation blogger Ben Schlappig noted in 2020 that the jet offered to Trump had logged just 1,069 flight hours since 2012—roughly two hours per week.
Former National Transportation Safety Board member John Goglia told Forbes that gifting the aircraft to the U.S. would help Qatar sidestep mounting maintenance costs, as the global fleet of 747s shrinks and qualified mechanics become harder to find.
President Donald Trump, who has openly criticized Boeing for delays in delivering two customized 747s for Air Force One, claims that accepting Qatar’s offer could save American taxpayers millions. On Truth Social, he clarified: “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! … It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings … arrive.”
Trump added that refusing such a gift would be “foolish,” given the cost savings and longstanding U.S. military support for Qatar. However, ethics experts and lawmakers across party lines have raised concerns that accepting the aircraft could violate constitutional or legal norms and may trigger further scrutiny or legal action. The jet would also require extensive retrofitting—such as secure communications, nuclear protection, and missile defense systems—to meet Air Force One standards.
