A White House official has suggested that the new Boeing VC-25B aircraft, which Boeing has been working on since March 2020, may face delays extending beyond 2029. This delay could result in President Donald Trump not being able to use the aircraft during his presidency.
The official attributed potential delays to supply chain issues and changes in requirements. The VC-25B is based on the Boeing 747-8 model. On January 28, Kelly Ortberg, CEO of Boeing, stated on CNBC’s ‘Squawk on the Street’ that discussions with Elon Musk are underway to reduce costs and expedite delivery. "The president wants those planes sooner, so we’re working with Elon to see what we can do to pull up the schedule of those programs," Ortberg said.
According to the United States Air Force (USAF), delivery of the first of two VC-25Bs was previously postponed to January 2027. The second aircraft's delivery is now expected by April 2027, with initial plans ranging from February 2027 to February 2028.