Mexico is facing an era of austerity and a flashpoint of that program is selling off the luxurious presidential jet, a Boeing 787-8. But no one wants to buy it.
As one if his first acts as Mexican President, Andres Manuel López Obrador ordered the 787 jet that his predecessor had purchased for presidential transport to be sold. But after a year of sitting in the California desert and failing to attract a buyer (and racking up $1.5MN in maintenance costs), it is coming back to Mexico.
The jet carries only 80 people and includes a lavish presidential suite with private bedroom and bath (pictures). Such an image does not fit in with López Obrador’s vision of austerity. Instead, he flies coach on commercial jets. Mexico is also attempting to sell 33 government-owned executive jets and smaller planes plus 39 helicopters.
But with no takers on the presidential Dreamliner, idealistic plans to use the money to fund anti-poverty programs are on hold. Now the government is entertaining leasing out the jet to businesses or rich individuals on a fractional ownership basis. Indeed, a brochure has already been printed that boasts of “incomparable VIP capacity” onboard and promises:
“You, you biggest producers, your elite sales team, your most prized associates can now enjoy a reserved flight experience until now only available to heads of state.”
The brochure also adds the aircraft will help with “brand exposure” and “attract investors or global personalities to your corporation with greater ease.”
Sounds a little desperate…
CONCLUSION
I respect politicians and royals who fly commercial and especially who fly coach. That said, the damage is done, the plane is delivered, and perhaps López Obrador should consider just using it as his predecessor did if no one wants to bur or lease it. In case you are wondering why it just doesn’t sell the plane to Aeromexico or another airline, it seems that re-configuring the aircraft would cost far too much money.
Interested in a VIP-configured 787-8?
The brochure also adds the aircraft will help with “brand exposure” and “attract investors or global personalities to your corporation with greater ease.” Sounds like something an Instagram “influencer” would tell a business when trying to scam free stuff or services.
All politics aside, this sounds like it’d be right up DJT’s alley. He’s had his own plane for ages and his tired-looking 757 could use an update/replacement. The internal fittings, while more muted than what he normally goes for, would serve a former president well insomuch as travelling with an entourage and security detail.
Contrast this to trump who in 3 years has spent more than obama in 8 years on personal outings, has spent 1 in 3 days on his golf courses, won’t release receipts for expenses of his personal travel, all the money spent goes into his own pockets because it’s mostly at mar a lago, where he tells people more about things than the Congress so they can trade on insider information. All this because he is protected by a cabal of white Republican males who want to keep their own kind in power and have come out and said they will hold a sham trial without any regards to evidence.
American exceptionalism my foot, this reminds me of russian and Chinese governments not a democracy. And this is before all the rapes and pu$$y grabbing. Thank you evangelicals. Christians and white Republican males will NEVER get their credibility back.
Contrast it with Obama who took numerous holidays to Hawaii, or to Europe to hobnob with wealthy socialists while scolding all the peasants about their CO2 emissions, and he and The first lady couldn’t even be bothered to fly together half the time. Are you really so stupid as to think Trump’s travel as POTUS is appreciably different from any predecessor? Give it a rest.
You forgot Hillary’s emails. And Benghazi, and your patriotism. Typical republican.
1 in 5 days last year on a golf course. While trying to act as President.
There is a difference. Too bad MAGA types don’t understand “facts” and “data” these days.
Mexico should legalize all drugs then lease the plane to Cartel bosses and their crews. Tax revenues would skyrocket and the poor could get more tax money.
The U.S. should decriminalize all drugs as people should be able to put in their own bodies what they desire. Don’t tax it as it adds another layer of bureaucracy and complication. Violence would plummet as people could buy what they want for cheap at Walgreens or a local dispensary and with half the arrests and half the prison populations, not only can police and prison budgets be cut and given back to tax payers but police can focus on stopping real crime.
Canada’s aging A310-300 government VIP jets are over 30 years old and due a replacement. A 787 would make sense for a country like Canada and there could be a bargain to be had here.