In connection with the 2018 elections, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promised to sell the to say the least expensive presidential plane if he came to power. The plane, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has since been up for sale. However, without any further luck.
A few years ago, the president hatched the idea of raffling off the plane to the Mexican people. But there was no lottery with the plane as a prize, and despite a number of interested parties, the plane has remained in Mexican ownership – until now.
According to López Obrador, the aircraft has been sold to the government of Tajikistan. And the price? Close to a billion kroner.
“After a long time, we managed to sell the plane,” says the Mexican president in a video greeting from inside the aircraft.
Over the years, the plane has lost a lot of value. The lavish government plane, with, among other things, marble-decorated bathrooms and a luxurious presidential suite, was bought for close to two billion kroner and is said to be worth just over one billion today. The Mexican president has previously said that the government will not sell the plane for less than what it is worth.
Now, however, the deal is done and the plane, with its 80 seats, has a new owner.
— We are happy, says the president further.