Boeing says it is still on course to hand over two new Air Force One jets in 2028, but the company warns that finishing the project will come with a higher price tag — adding to a program that is already billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.
The aerospace giant was awarded a $3.9 billion contract back in 2018 to build the aircraft. Since then, costs have climbed to more than $5 billion. The new planes are meant to replace the current Air Force One jets, which have been in service since 1990.
Steve Parker, CEO of Defense, Space & Security, spoke to reporters ahead of the Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom, offering an update on the program’s status.
“We’re on track for 2028,” Parker said, adding that he anticipates the first aircraft will move into testing next year.
However, he acknowledged that more spending is expected before the project wraps up. “I do expect to see some cost growth there as we come through and we finish off the wiring and the structures, as well as finishing up our own certifications,” he said.
The program involves converting two Boeing 747-8 aircraft into highly specialized presidential jets loaded with advanced communications equipment and defensive systems.
In the meantime, the United States accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar in May 2025 for use as a temporary presidential aircraft. That jet has since been put into service as a bridge aircraft. Security concerns prompted President Donald Trump to skip flying the Qatari jet home from Turkey, choosing instead to travel on an older Air Force One.
Even if Boeing meets the 2028 delivery target, the program will still be running four years behind its original timeline.
