Photos show the luxurious, heavily fortified presidential jets world leaders use for official travel

SOURCE:Business Insider|BY:David Slotnick,Talia Lakritz

President Donald Trump posing for photo with law enforcement in front of a Boeing VC25 operating as Air Force One. MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images The US president flies on Air Force One. Other countries have their own presidential planes. Boeing 747 jumbo jets and Airbus A330 and A340 planes are popular options for world leaders. The Boeing VC-25 is arguably the most famous jetliner in the world, even though most people have never heard of it. Most do know it, though, by the call sign it's assigned when the president of the United States is on board: Air Force One. Air Force One is instantly recognizable, both as the president's airplane and as a flying symbol of American military and economic might. With its hand-polished blue, white, and silver livery, Air Force One boldly proclaims the arrival of the leader of the free world. The US president is not the only one to have their own presidential jet. A number of prominent international leaders also use some form of executive transport. The Boeing 747 jumbo jet is a popular option for many nations, including China, India, and South Korea. The Airbus A330 and A340 are also commonly found in presidential fleets. Here's a closer look at how the presidents, chancellors, and prime ministers of the world travel. The US president's main Air Force One plane, a Boeing VC-25A, is a heavily modified version of the Boeing 747-200 airliner. Air Force One transporting US President Donald Trump arrives at the airport in Gyeongju on October 29, 2025. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images The Boeing VC-25A entered service as Air Force One in 1990. At 231 feet long, it can transport 30 crew members and 71 passengers. There are two nearly identical Boeing jets that serve as the official transport of the president. Normally, the planes are referred to by their tail numbers: 28000 and 29000. When the commander-in-chief steps on board, they take on the call sign "Air Force One." New VC-25B Air Force One planes, based on the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, are now expected to be ready by 2028 after years of delays. Boeing has already lost over $2 billion on the project due to various manufacturing and supply-chain issues. The presidential jets are operated by the Presidential Airlift Group out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. On some occasions, the US president has been known to use the Boeing 757-200-based C-32 aircraft as well. Holger Hollemann/picture alliance via Getty Images The smaller C-32, measuring 155 feet long, normally serves as the US vice president's plane. It is used by the president for travel to smaller airports that don't have the infrastructure for the larger Air Force One jet. The UK prime minister's official transport is a Royal Air Force Airbus A330 MRTT known as Vespina, with the tail number ZZ336. ZZ336 Royal Air Force Airbus Voyager KC3 (MADRS48) landing in to RAF Brize Norton. ZZ336 underwent a ?900,000 refurbishment program which included painting the jet in the colours of the Union flag and the United Kingdom in gold. ZZ336 is also used for the Royal Family and the prime minister. The new livery is seen to ''better represent'' the UK abroad. The work was carried out by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in June 2020. RAF Brize Norton, England, United Kingdom, on August 13, 2020. Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images Until 2015, the UK prime minister chartered commercial jets for state visits. The modified Airbus A330 was converted for VIP duties in 2015, but can still serve as a refueling tanker when not on state business. It is outfitted with 58 business-class seats. In 2020, its gray Royal Air Force livery was repainted with a new white color and the Union Jack on the tail, a refurbishment that cost £900,000, or around $1.1 million, the BBC reported. The president of Russia's fleet of domestically produced aircraft is headlined by five heavily modified Ilyushin IL-96-300PU airliners. Russia's Ilyushin Il-96-300. Adnan Abidi/Reuters Nicknamed "The Flying Kremlin," the Ilyushin Il-96-300 measures over 181 feet long and can hold 262 passengers, The National Interest reported. The Russian president has also been known to fly on a fleet of smaller executive aircraft based on the Tupolev Tu-214 airliner. Tupolev TU-214s were designed as the Russian equivalent of Boeing 757s and can hold around 210 passengers. The German chancellor travels on an Airbus A350-900 XWB. 06 November 2025, Brandenburg, Schönefeld: An Airbus A350 from the German Air Force stands ready at the military section of BER Berlin-Brandenburg Airport for the Federal Chancellor's trip to the COP30 World Climate Conference in Belem, Brazil. From November 10 to 21, tens of thousands of delegates from almost every country in the world will meet at the COP30 world climate conference in Belém in the Brazilian Amazon region to negotiate how to curb the worsening climate crisis. Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images German leaders previously used modified Airbus A340-300 airliners for official travel, but they were withdrawn from service and put up for sale in 2024 after experiencing maintenance issues with German officials on board. The German fleet also features several Airbus A320-family-based executive jets. The president of France's primary jet is an ex-Swissair Airbus A330-200 that has been converted into a VIP transport. TOPSHOT - The plane carrying France's President Emmanuel Macron is seen after landing at the Capital International Airport in Beijing on December 3, 2025. French President Emmanuel Macron touched down on December 3 in China, an AFP journalist saw, where he is expected to put pressure on his counterpart Xi Jinping to help secure a ceasefire in Ukraine and discuss trade relations. Ludovic MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images When carrying the president of France, the plane's call sign is COTAM 001. France's presidential fleet also includes several Airbus A310-300s and Airbus A340-200s. China's president flies on a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental airliner converted from an Air China plane into a full-time presidential jet. China's presidential plane. Athit Perawongmetha/POOL/AFP/Getty Images Designated as B-2479, the plane can fly 14,320 kilometers, or around 8898 miles, without stopping to refuel. The Japanese prime minister uses a Boeing 777-300ER to travel around the world. The Japanese prime minister's plane. JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images Japan's old Air Force One plane, a Boeing 747-400, was listed for sale on an aviation classifieds site for $28 million in 2019. The South Korean president conducts official state visits using a converted Boeing 747-8I. The plane carrying South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrives at the Philadelphia International Airport Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/AP The plane uses the call sign "Code One" while carrying the South Korean president. Leased from Korean Air, it began serving as South Korea's presidential aircraft in 2021, AeroTime reported. The Brazilian president's main long-haul transport is a militarized Airbus A330-200 known as KC-30. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (C-L) is welcomed by South Africa's Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela (C-R) upon his arrival at the OR Tambo International airport in Ekurhuleni on November 21, 2025 ahead of the G20 leader's Summit. MARCO LONGARI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil switched from using a luxurious Airbus A319 corporate jet to the more utilitarian KC-30 after the presidential plane experienced a technical issue in 2024 while visiting Mexico, Reuters reported. Brazil's presidential fleet also features several domestically produced Embraer VIP transports. The Canadian prime minister flies on board an Airbus A-330-200. A plane carrying Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, on November 15, 2023. The APEC Summit takes place through November 17. JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images The Canadian government bought the Airbus A-330-200, known as Airbus 02, from Kuwait Airways for $50 million in 2023, CBC reported. The Polish presidential fleet features a variety of new VIP transports, including Embraer E-Jets, Gulfstream G550s, and Boeing 737 BBJ2s. A Polish governmental plane carrying Polish President Andrzej Duda lands at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport as U.S. President Joe Biden also arrives to visit Poland, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, near Rzeszow, Poland, March 25, 2022. Kacper Pempel/Reuters Poland received its first Boeing 737 BBJ2 jet in 2021 featuring the serial number 0111 and nicknamed "Roman Dmowski" after the Polish politician, Key.Aero reported. The Indian prime minister flies on board a customized Boeing 777-300ER. An airplane carrying India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands at Haneda airport in Tokyo on May 23, 2022. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images When carrying the prime minister, the plane is known as "India One." It can fly for 13,500 kilometers, or around 8,388 miles, without refueling. The Turkish presidential fleet is one of the more impressive in the world, with a variety of wide-body commercial airliners converted into VIP transports. Murat Kaynak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images The fleet includes Airbus A330-200s, Airbus A340-500s, and a Boeing 747-8I private jet reportedly gifted to Turkey by the Qatari government, the BBC reported. North Korea's official VIP transport is a Soviet-era Ilyushin IL-62. Kyodo News via Getty Images The plane is nicknamed "Chammae-1," named after North Korea's national bird, AP reported. The Iranian president's VIP transport is an Airbus A340-300 that once flew with Air Canada and Turkish Airlines. Abdulhamit Topal/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images In June, Iran's presidential plane flew to Jordan accompanied by two Airbus A321s, The War Zone reported. The Australian prime minister's fleet includes a KC-30A for longer trips and several Boeing 737 BBJs and Dassault Falcon 7X jets for shorter flights. The plane carrying Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese taxis on the tarmac after arriving at Hiroshima airport in Mihara, Hiroshima prefecture on May 19, 2023, on the first day of the G7 Leaders' Summit. PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images Australia's KC-30A, a modified Airbus A330, features the gray Royal Australian Air Force livery with a kangaroo design. Israel's prime minister flies on a Boeing 767-300ER. Israel's Wing of Zion plane. Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto The plane is known as "Wing of Zion," with the registration "4X-ISR." Editor's note: This story was originally published by Benjamin Zhang in April 2019. It was updated in September 2019 and December 2025. Read the original article on Business Insider

Boeing VC25 Air Force One — President Donald Trump posing for photo with law enforcement in front of a Boeing VC25 operating as Air Force One.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

The US president flies on Air Force One.
Other countries have their own presidential planes.
Boeing 747 jumbo jets and Airbus A330 and A340 planes are popular options for world leaders.

The Boeing VC-25 is arguably the most famous jetliner in the world, even though most people have never heard of it.

Most do know it, though, by the call sign it's assigned when the president of the United States is on board: Air Force One.

Air Force One is instantly recognizable, both as the president's airplane and as a flying symbol of American military and economic might. With its hand-polished blue, white, and silver livery, Air Force One boldly proclaims the arrival of the leader of the free world.

The US president is not the only one to have their own presidential jet. A number of prominent international leaders also use some form of executive transport.

The Boeing 747 jumbo jet is a popular option for many nations, including China, India, and South Korea. The Airbus A330 and A340 are also commonly found in presidential fleets.

Here's a closer look at how the presidents, chancellors, and prime ministers of the world travel.

The US president's main Air Force One plane, a Boeing VC-25A, is a heavily modified version of the Boeing 747-200 airliner.

The Boeing VC-25A entered service as Air Force One in 1990. At 231 feet long, it can transport 30 crew members and 71 passengers.

There are two nearly identical Boeing jets that serve as the official transport of the president. Normally, the planes are referred to by their tail numbers: 28000 and 29000. When the commander-in-chief steps on board, they take on the call sign "Air Force One."

New VC-25B Air Force One planes, based on the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, are now expected to be ready by 2028 after years of delays. Boeing has already lost over $2 billion on the project due to various manufacturing and supply-chain issues.

The presidential jets are operated by the Presidential Airlift Group out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

On some occasions, the US president has been known to use the Boeing 757-200-based C-32 aircraft as well.

Boeing 757 C32 — Holger Hollemann/picture alliance via Getty Images

The smaller C-32, measuring 155 feet long, normally serves as the US vice president's plane. It is used by the president for travel to smaller airports that don't have the infrastructure for the larger Air Force One jet.

The UK prime minister's official transport is a Royal Air Force Airbus A330 MRTT known as Vespina, with the tail number ZZ336.

ZZ336 Royal Air Force Airbus Voyager KC3 (MADRS48) landing in to RAF Brize Norton. ZZ336 underwent a ?900,000 refurbishment program which included painting the jet in the colours of the Union flag and the United Kingdom in gold. ZZ336 is also used for the Royal Family and the prime minister. The new livery is seen to ''better represent'' the UK abroad. The work was carried out by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in June 2020. RAF Brize Norton, England, United Kingdom, on August 13, 2020.
Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Until 2015, the UK prime minister chartered commercial jets for state visits.

The modified Airbus A330 was converted for VIP duties in 2015, but can still serve as a refueling tanker when not on state business. It is outfitted with 58 business-class seats.

In 2020, its gray Royal Air Force livery was repainted with a new white color and the Union Jack on the tail, a refurbishment that cost £900,000, or around $1.1 million, the BBC reported.

The president of Russia's fleet of domestically produced aircraft is headlined by five heavily modified Ilyushin IL-96-300PU airliners.

Russia's Ilyushin Il-96-300 plane. — Russia's Ilyushin Il-96-300.
Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Nicknamed "The Flying Kremlin," the Ilyushin Il-96-300 measures over 181 feet long and can hold 262 passengers, The National Interest reported.

The Russian president has also been known to fly on a fleet of smaller executive aircraft based on the Tupolev Tu-214 airliner. Tupolev TU-214s were designed as the Russian equivalent of Boeing 757s and can hold around 210 passengers.

The German chancellor travels on an Airbus A350-900 XWB.

06 November 2025, Brandenburg, Schönefeld: An Airbus A350 from the German Air Force stands ready at the military section of BER Berlin-Brandenburg Airport for the Federal Chancellor's trip to the COP30 World Climate Conference in Belem, Brazil. From November 10 to 21, tens of thousands of delegates from almost every country in the world will meet at the COP30 world climate conference in Belém in the Brazilian Amazon region to negotiate how to curb the worsening climate crisis.
Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images

German leaders previously used modified Airbus A340-300 airliners for official travel, but they were withdrawn from service and put up for sale in 2024 after experiencing maintenance issues with German officials on board.

The German fleet also features several Airbus A320-family-based executive jets.

The president of France's primary jet is an ex-Swissair Airbus A330-200 that has been converted into a VIP transport.

The plane carrying France's President Emmanuel Macron. — TOPSHOT - The plane carrying France's President Emmanuel Macron is seen after landing at the Capital International Airport in Beijing on December 3, 2025. French President Emmanuel Macron touched down on December 3 in China, an AFP journalist saw, where he is expected to put pressure on his counterpart Xi Jinping to help secure a ceasefire in Ukraine and discuss trade relations.
Ludovic MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

When carrying the president of France, the plane's call sign is COTAM 001.

France's presidential fleet also includes several Airbus A310-300s and Airbus A340-200s.

China's president flies on a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental airliner converted from an Air China plane into a full-time presidential jet.

China's presidential plane.
Athit Perawongmetha/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

Designated as B-2479, the plane can fly 14,320 kilometers, or around 8898 miles, without stopping to refuel.

The Japanese prime minister uses a Boeing 777-300ER to travel around the world.

Japan's Air Force One plane. — The Japanese prime minister's plane.
JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images

Japan's old Air Force One plane, a Boeing 747-400, was listed for sale on an aviation classifieds site for $28 million in 2019.

The South Korean president conducts official state visits using a converted Boeing 747-8I.

The plane carrying South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. — The plane carrying South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrives at the Philadelphia International Airport Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia.
Matt Rourke/AP

The plane uses the call sign "Code One" while carrying the South Korean president. Leased from Korean Air, it began serving as South Korea's presidential aircraft in 2021, AeroTime reported.

The Brazilian president's main long-haul transport is a militarized Airbus A330-200 known as KC-30.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva disembarked from his presidential jet at the G20 Summit in 2025. — Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (C-L) is welcomed by South Africa's Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela (C-R) upon his arrival at the OR Tambo International airport in Ekurhuleni on November 21, 2025 ahead of the G20 leader's Summit.
MARCO LONGARI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil switched from using a luxurious Airbus A319 corporate jet to the more utilitarian KC-30 after the presidential plane experienced a technical issue in 2024 while visiting Mexico, Reuters reported.

Brazil's presidential fleet also features several domestically produced Embraer VIP transports.

The Canadian prime minister flies on board an Airbus A-330-200.

The Canadian prime minister's plane. — A plane carrying Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, on November 15, 2023. The APEC Summit takes place through November 17.
JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images

The Canadian government bought the Airbus A-330-200, known as Airbus 02, from Kuwait Airways for $50 million in 2023, CBC reported.

The Polish presidential fleet features a variety of new VIP transports, including Embraer E-Jets, Gulfstream G550s, and Boeing 737 BBJ2s.

The Polish presidential jet. — A Polish governmental plane carrying Polish President Andrzej Duda lands at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport as U.S. President Joe Biden also arrives to visit Poland, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, near Rzeszow, Poland, March 25, 2022.
Kacper Pempel/Reuters

Poland received its first Boeing 737 BBJ2 jet in 2021 featuring the serial number 0111 and nicknamed "Roman Dmowski" after the Polish politician, Key.Aero reported.

The Indian prime minister flies on board a customized Boeing 777-300ER.

India's prime minister's plane. — An airplane carrying India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands at Haneda airport in Tokyo on May 23, 2022.
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

When carrying the prime minister, the plane is known as "India One." It can fly for 13,500 kilometers, or around 8,388 miles, without refueling.

The Turkish presidential fleet is one of the more impressive in the world, with a variety of wide-body commercial airliners converted into VIP transports.

Boeing 747 8 Turkey government — Murat Kaynak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The fleet includes Airbus A330-200s, Airbus A340-500s, and a Boeing 747-8I private jet reportedly gifted to Turkey by the Qatari government, the BBC reported.

North Korea's official VIP transport is a Soviet-era Ilyushin IL-62.

Ilyushin 62M North Korea — Kyodo News via Getty Images

The plane is nicknamed "Chammae-1," named after North Korea's national bird, AP reported.

The Iranian president's VIP transport is an Airbus A340-300 that once flew with Air Canada and Turkish Airlines.

Airbus A340 Iran government — Abdulhamit Topal/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

In June, Iran's presidential plane flew to Jordan accompanied by two Airbus A321s, The War Zone reported.

The Australian prime minister's fleet includes a KC-30A for longer trips and several Boeing 737 BBJs and Dassault Falcon 7X jets for shorter flights.

The Australian prime minister's plane. — The plane carrying Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese taxis on the tarmac after arriving at Hiroshima airport in Mihara, Hiroshima prefecture on May 19, 2023, on the first day of the G7 Leaders' Summit.
PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images

Australia's KC-30A, a modified Airbus A330, features the gray Royal Australian Air Force livery with a kangaroo design.

Israel's prime minister flies on a Boeing 767-300ER.

Israel's Wing of Zion plane.
Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto

The plane is known as "Wing of Zion," with the registration "4X-ISR."

Editor's note: This story was originally published by Benjamin Zhang in April 2019. It was updated in September 2019 and December 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider

RETRUI

RETRUI

Photos show the luxurious, heavily fortified presidential jets world leaders use for official travel