"Shameful to Use" Mexico President's Ultra-Luxury Private Jet Sold at Half Price... Why?

The ultra-luxurious presidential plane of Mexico, which had sparked controversy over budget waste, was sold four years after being put on the market. The selling price did not even reach half of the purchase price.

Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador, President of Mexico, announced at a regular press conference held on the 21st (local time) at the Mexico Museum in Veracruz, southeastern Mexico, that “the presidential plane ‘TP-01,’ a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner model, has been sold to the government of Tajikistan.”

The sale contract amount of $92 million (122 billion KRW) is less than half of the purchase price of $218 million (290 billion KRW) in 2012.

The plane was purchased during the administration of former President Felipe Calder?n (2006?2012) with a budget allocation. The 300-seat aircraft was remodeled to accommodate 80 people and equipped with a private bedroom, personal bathroom, shower facilities, and more.

Interior of the Mexican President's Private Jet [Image Source: Provided by the Office of the President of Mexico]

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After taking office in December 2018, L?pez Obrador immediately ordered the sale, calling it “an ultra-luxurious asset unsuitable for Mexico’s circumstances.” Additionally, as maintenance and repair costs increased while the plane was stored in the hangar, in 2020, a special lottery was issued to raise funds, and plans were made to rent it out for weddings and birthday parties.

Since his inauguration, President L?pez Obrador has consistently traveled domestically and internationally in economy class on commercial flights. Because of this, the only person who actually used the presidential plane was his predecessor, former President Enrique Pe?a Nieto (2012?2018).

President L?pez Obrador also said, “Using this plane is honestly a shame,” adding, “Even former U.S. President Donald Trump, well known as a wealthy individual, does not have a plane like this.”

Regarding the reason for the halved price, President L?pez Obrador explained, “The value has dropped significantly due to daily depreciation and errors in information related to the manufacturing date.” He added, “The proceeds from the sale will be used to build hospitals in impoverished areas of southern Mexico.”

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