The Boeing 747 and the Airbus A330 are two of the most popular choices for Presidential jets. Here's how the world's leaders travel.
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Apr 3, 2019, 20:44 IST
1. The United States of America: The US president's Boeing VC25 is a heavily modified version of the Boeing 747-200 airliner.
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It entered service in 1990 and is expected to be replaced by new planes based on the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental in 2024.
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On some occasions, the US President has been known to use the Boeing 757-200-based C-32 aircraft as well.
2. The Russian Federation: The President of Russia's fleet of domestically produced aircraft is headlined by five heavily modified Ilyushin IL-96-300PU airliners.
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The Russian President has also been known to fly on a fleet of smaller executive aircraft based on Tupolev TU-214 airliners.
2. The Federal Republic of Germany: The German Chancellor's fleet includes a pair of modified Airbus A340-300 airliners that once flew for Lufthansa.
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The German fleet also features several Airbus A320-family-based executive jets.
3. The People's Republic of China: The Chinese do not have a dedicated presidential jet. Instead, it uses Boeing 747-400 airliners pulled for the Air China fleet.
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However, with the 747-400 becoming increasingly dated, Beijing is reportedly working on a converting one of Air China's 747-8 Intercontinental airliners into a full-time presidential jet.
5. Japan: Since 1993, the Japanese Prime Minister's plane of choice has been a pair of modified Boeing 747-400s. However, the duo will be replaced this year by a pair of brand new Boeing 777-300ERs.
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5. The French Republic: the President of France's primary jet is an ex-Swissair Airbus A330-200 that has been converted into a VIP transport.
France's presidential fleet also includes several Airbus A310-300s and Airbus A340-200s.
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6. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: The UK Prime Minister's official transport is a Royal Air Force Airbus A330MRTT that has been outfitted with 58 business class seats.
The plane was converted for VIP duties in 2015 but can still serve as a refueling tanker when not on state business.
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Until 2015, the UK Prime Minister chartered commercial jets for state visits.
7. The Republic of Korea: The South Korean president conducts official state visits using a converted Boeing 747-400 leased from Korean Air.
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8. The Federative Republic of Brazil: The Brazilian President's main long-haul transport is an Airbus A319-based corporate jet. Brazil's presidential fleet also features several domestically produced Embraer VIP transports.
9. Canada: The Canadian PM flies onboard a fleet of modified Airbus A310-300s dubbed the CC-150 Polaris.
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10. The Republic of Poland: The Polish presidential fleet features a variety of new VIP transports including Embraer E-Jets, Gulfstream G550s, and Boeing 737 BBJs.
11. The Republic of India: The Indian PM traditionally flies aboard Air India Boeing 747-400s operated by the Indian Air Force. However, the aging jumbo jet is reportedly set to be replaced by a new customized Boeing 777-300ER.
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12. The Republic of Turkey: The Turkish presidential fleet is one of the more impressive in the world. It includes a variety of wide-body commercial airliners that have been converted into VIP transports including Airbus A330-200s, ...
... Airbus A340-500s, and...
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... a Boeing 747-8I private jet reportedly gifted to Turkey by the Qatari government.
13. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea: North Korea's official VIP transports are Soviet-era Ilyushin IL-62M. However, North Korean leadership has more recently used trains and aircraft provided by China.
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14. The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire: Ivorian presidential fleet includes an Airbus A319 corporate jet.
15. The Islamic Republic of Iran: The Iranian President's latest VIP transport is an Airbus A340-300 that once flew with Air Canada and Turkish Airlines.
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16. Commonwealth of Australia: The Australian PM's fleet includes several Boeing 737 BBJs. However, a Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330MRTT is reportedly being converted into a long-range VIP transport.