The Federal Council offers itself the “Palace of the Sky” for 109 million francs: These are the luxury planes of other heads of state

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The Swiss government blocks the purchase of the new jet. Bombardier Global will pay a total of 109 million francs to purchase the 7500. The federal administration is said to have internally dubbed the new plane the “Palace of the Skies.”

But looking beyond the country’s borders, the Federal Council appears to be in good company among heads of state, at high costs and relatively modestly. Blick has the overview:

The future US president will also be able to enjoy a new presidential plane. In 2018, the US Air Force ordered two new aircraft called VC-25B from aircraft manufacturer Boeing. These are military upgraded versions of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and are expected to enter service from September 2026. Cost: 3.5 billion francs. An hour’s flight also costs more than 160,000 francs.

France relies on a model from European manufacturer Airbus. In use since 2009, the A330 has only external similarities with its commercial counterparts. Inside the plane of President Emmanuel Macron (45), there is, among other things, a room with a bathroom, an office, a meeting room for 12 people and even a small operating room for medical emergencies. Purchasing costs were correspondingly high: 220 million francs. An hour’s flight costs 20,000 francs of taxpayers’ money.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (69) also has an impressive plane: Boeing 737. Actually, it was going to be around 400 million francs, but it was given to Erdoğan as a gift. The generous gesture came from Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (43), who wanted to emphasize his “love for Erdogan” with his gift.

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (69) will not only have fond memories of the presidential plane. Because she came late to the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires in 2018. Reason: a defect in your aircraft. As a result, the Chancellor had to switch to a scheduled flight. Following this fiasco, the Bundestag released 1.2 billion euros for three new A350 aircraft. VIP amenities include one bedroom, one bathroom and a lounge area.

Aircraft procurement in China is different. President Xi Jinping, 70, does not have his own fleet like in the United States, but flies two converted commercial Air China planes that are also used for passenger flights. Rows of chairs make room for the living room, bedroom and office. Before each flight, the machine is also inspected for safety risks. The value of both Boeing 747-400s is estimated at 220 million francs each.

Vladimir Putin’s (70) Ilyushin Il-96 is popularly called the “flying Kremlin”. The interior is extremely luxurious. Leather furniture, walnut veneers and gold decorations characterize the interior. Facilities include a private office, meeting rooms, break room, guest lounge, mini gym, dining room, bar, showers and operating room. The cost of the aircraft is estimated at 500 million francs.

Source :Blick