Qatar’s offer of a $400 million Boeing 747-8i private jet to US President Donald Trump has been attracting global attention over the last two weeks. However, you’ll be surprised to know that it’s not the most lavish aircraft the Gulf nation has ever given away. In fact, a similar aircraft once gifted to Turkey by Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani, surpassed the jet offered to the United States in both cost and luxury, setting a high-water mark for customized aviation.
The aircraft gifted to Turkey—registered as VQ-BSK—is also a Boeing 747-8i, but with a level of personalization and finish that makes it arguably the most luxurious private aircraft of its kind. When it was publicly listed for sale in 2018, aviation sources estimated its value at over $500 million, well above the $400 million valuation of the jet offered to the United States. Though both aircraft share the same airframe, their outfitting tells two very different stories.
VQ-BSK was delivered with just 436 flight hours and 200 cycles, essentially brand-new by aviation standards. The aircraft’s interior was extensively completed by Boeing’s San Antonio facility, tailored for ultra-VIP transport.
It included multiple lounges, private bedrooms, a hospital bay, custom lighting, gold-accented fixtures, and room for 76 passengers and 18 crew members. The cabin was arranged more like a five-star hotel suite in the sky than a conventional aircraft.
In contrast, the jet offered to President Trump is a 13-year-old Boeing 747-8i. Though still highly valuable and substantial in scale, its condition and configuration differ from the aircraft given to Turkey.
If accepted, this plane will undergo a retrofit by L3Harris to meet the standards necessary for US presidential transport. Its estimated value of $400 million includes the airframe and future modifications, but it’s clear the base aircraft is significantly older and less tailored than VQ-BSK was at the time of its transfer.
The Trump aircraft also retains much of its original commercial configuration for now and will require major upgrades in communication, defense, and security systems before it can enter official service. The aircraft will first be handed over to the US Air Force for this purpose, with eventual transfer planned to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.
When comparing the two aircraft purely on design, customization, and market value, the jet given to Turkey is in a league of its own. It was not only more expensive but also represented a higher degree of luxury, exclusivity, and near-zero usage at the time of the handover.
Both planes share the prestige of being among the rare privately-operated Boeing 747-8i aircraft, a model typically reserved for commercial airlines and heads of state. But in terms of sheer opulence and value, the Turkish jet—VQ-BSK—still stands as the more impressive of Qatar’s aviation gifts.
