President Donald Trump said he wants a new version of Air Force One as Boeing’s program to replace the presidential aircraft endures delays and cost overruns, a development that has renewed attention on the size and age of the United States executive fleet.
Trump, speaking in a February interview with Sean Hannity, said, "They're not building the plane fast enough. I mean, they're actually in default," a comment aimed at the Chicago-based manufacturer as the long-awaited presidential aircraft replacements have missed milestones and grown more expensive. Air Force One is the radio call sign used for any Air Force aircraft carrying the president.
The current executive fleet is larger than the two highly customized jets commonly recognized as Air Force One. Data from 2020 indicated at least 20 planes make up the executive fleet, with some aircraft assigned for cargo, transport, aerial refueling coordination and other support functions. A newly constructed plane has not been added to the fleet in nearly 27 years, and some of the airplanes in service are expected to remain operational for another 13 years, according to the reporting.
The two jets most frequently referred to as Air Force One are modified Boeing aircraft that were deployed in 1990 during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Those aircraft subsequently carried Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump, President Joe Biden and, since January 2025, President Trump again.
The replacement program, long anticipated by the Air Force, called for newly configured aircraft to succeed the aging fleet. Boeing has been the prime contractor in the effort to deliver modernized planes that meet the specialized communications, defensive and operational demands of presidential travel. Officials have repeatedly pushed back delivery schedules as technical challenges, certification steps and program costs have evolved.
Administration officials have emphasized continuity and safety in presidential air travel, noting that the designation Air Force One applies only when the president is on board and that the broader executive fleet provides layered capabilities. The two customized presidential jets have been maintained and upgraded over time to extend their service life, but aging systems and changing security requirements have made a long-term replacement a strategic priority.
Criticism of program management and supplier performance surfaced publicly as delays mounted. In his interview, Trump framed the situation as a failure to meet contractual and schedule expectations. Boeing has faced scrutiny across several high-profile programs in recent years, and its executive aircraft work is part of that broader conversation about timelines, cost growth and industrial capacity.
Interest in presidential aviation also extends to global comparisons and curiosities, such as the sometimes-discussed state aircraft used by other heads of state. Coverage of the U.S. fleet has occasionally referenced foreign presidential or royal aircraft in explaining how nations approach the design, procurement and ceremonial presentation of such assets.
Officials in the Pentagon and White House routinely weigh operational readiness against acquisition timelines. As debate continues over procurement and contractor performance, the practical constraints of maintaining an aging fleet while awaiting replacements remain a central issue. The Air Force and Boeing did not immediately provide new public timelines in the reporting that accompanied the president’s comments.