Trump blasts Boeing Air Force One delays, but airlines grow upbeat

Boeing 737s on the Ground in Renton, Washington.

President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over the long wait for two Boeing 747s that will serve as the new Air Force One planes. The jets are years behind schedule, with cost overruns totaling over $2 billion to date.

Trump negotiated the $4 billion contract for the aircraft during his first term, but it is unclear whether they will be ready during his current term. To address the delay, Trump advisor Elon Musk is working with Boeing to deliver the aircraft faster, according to Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg.

"The president’s clearly not happy with the delivery timing. I think he’s made that well known," Ortberg said at a Barclays industrials conference. "Elon Musk is actually helping us a lot in working through the requirements… to help us get the things that are non-value-added constraints out of the way so that we can move faster and get the president those airplanes delivered."

Ortberg described Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, as a "brilliant guy" who can "pretty quickly ascertain the difference between technical requirement and things that we can move out of the way."

Frustration and Alternatives

Trump expressed his frustration with the delay during a visit to a 747 parked at Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport over the weekend. "We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something," he said, according to Reuters.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Boeing’s Challenges

Boeing’s airline customers have faced long delays for aircraft, including the near-catastrophic door-plug blow out in January 2024, which further slowed down deliveries. However, some customers are growing more optimistic about the manufacturer’s performance under Ortberg’s leadership.

"Boeing is doing a pretty miraculous job of turning around and becoming more reliable as a supplier," United Airlines CFO Mike Leskinen said at the same Barclays conference. "Our confidence that our MAX aircraft are going to be delivered on schedule has never been greater at my tenure at United Airlines."

Conclusion

Boeing’s 737 Max, its bestseller, is expected to resume production, with the manufacturer aiming to ramp up production to 38 planes per month in the coming months. While the delay for the Air Force One planes is a significant concern, Boeing’s efforts to turn around its performance and deliver aircraft on schedule are promising.

FAQs

Q: Why is President Trump frustrated with the delay for the new Air Force One planes?
A: President Trump is frustrated with the long wait for the new Air Force One planes, which are years behind schedule and have cost overruns totaling over $2 billion.

Q: Who is working with Boeing to deliver the aircraft faster?
A: Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, is working with Boeing to help deliver the aircraft faster.

Q: What is the current production rate of the 737 Max?
A: Boeing is aiming to ramp up production of the 737 Max to 38 planes per month in the coming months.