Since 2018, the Mexican government has had its presidential aircraft (registration XC-MEX) parked and stored while trying, unsuccessfully, to sell it. Moreover, in 2022, the country will pay US$16 million to keep it stored. Why is this happening? Is the TP-01, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an unreliable aircraft or is there another reason why the government refuses to use it? Let’s investigate further.

A bit about the presidential Dreamliner

In 2012, the former Mexican president Felipe Calderón signed a deal to acquire a new presidential jet through a lease with the Mexican National Works and Public Services Bank, or Banobras. The government acquired a Boeing 787-8 private jet, registration XC-MEX. It was one of Boeing’s first Dreamliners ever built and had its first flight on October 4, 2010.

Banobras, a State-owned bank, owns the aircraft and leases it to the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena).

The Mexican government paid US$114.6 million for the aircraft, according to local media outlet Expansión. But the final cost increased to US$218.7 million because it had to be retrofitted and become a sort of “air bunker” for the Mexican president. The government signed a 15-year lease for the aircraft, which is set to expire in 2027.

Mexico received the aircraft in February 2016, and former Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto used it widely throughout the last few years of its mandate. Nevertheless, the airplane became a political tool when the new government arrived, under current president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Why is it not being used?

While in the campaign to get elected, current Mexican president Mr. López Obrador said that the presidential Dreamliner was an excess. He said he would never use the aircraft, and so far, he hasn’t. Additionally, he said he would sell it, as it was a “Pharaonic and indecent aircraft.” So far, despite a widespread raffle, he hasn’t been able to get rid of the Dreamliner. Instead, XC-MEX has been living the past few years flying between Mexico City and Victorville, where it receives maintenance. It has been stored while the president flies on commercial airlines.

According to a recent valuation of the aircraft, the Dreamliner is worth approximately US$130 million.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.

Why hasn’t the government been able to sell it?

In 2022, the Mexican Government will invest US$16 million to keep on paying the lease for an aircraft that it simply won’t use. Additionally, it has to keep paying millions of dollars to maintain the aircraft in airworthiness conditions. The authorities keep claiming that they will, eventually, sell the Dreamliner. Nevertheless, that’s unlikely to happen.

Given the fact that it is a private aircraft, it has a unique configuration that makes it not worthy for commercial airlines. But it also makes it tricky to sell to private owners, including Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, who Mexico previously approached to buy the aircraft. We’ve published an article looking inside Mexico’s presidential Boeing 787 private jet.

Despite the difficulties, the government has found some possible buyers. For example, in January 2021, it was reported that Isatech made an offer of US$138 million for the Dreamliner and two additional aircraft. If accepted, Isatech would have paid a percentage in cash and another percentage using cryptocurrency. The Mexican government refused to take the offer.

Most likely, the government will keep XC-MEX stored until Mr. López Obrador term finishes and will keep on paying the lease. After that, the aircraft could have a second stint as Mexico's presidential jet. We'll have to wait and see.

Do you think the Mexican government will find a new owner for the presidential Boeing 787 Dreamliner? What do you think it should do with the aircraft? Let us know in the comments.