The Egyptian government has taken delivery of its long-anticipated Boeing 747-8 presidential aircraft, despite the jet having been manufactured 14 years ago. Registered SU-EGY, the aircraft landed in Cairo on December 11, completing an unusual and lengthy journey before entering service.
The Boeing 747-8 in question was produced in 2011 as part of Lufthansa’s 20-aircraft order. However, at Boeing’s request, one aircraft was retained in the United States for testing and evaluation purposes and never joined Lufthansa’s fleet. In its early years, the aircraft was used for flight testing and promotional activities, before being placed in desert storage in the U.S. from 2018, awaiting a buyer.
In 2021, it emerged that the Egyptian government would become the new owner of the aircraft. The project was shaped around a concept similar to the U.S. presidential aircraft VC-25. In 2022, the aircraft was flown to Shannon Airport in Ireland for repainting, after which it underwent extensive cabin modifications, technical integrations, and the installation of special systems at Lufthansa Technik facilities. These works took approximately four years to complete.
Throughout 2025, the aircraft conducted a series of test flights from Hamburg using the call signs EGY1 and EGY2, before being transferred to Cairo upon completion of the program. The total cost of the project is reported to be around 500 million dollars.
The Boeing 747-8 will be used to transport Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and other senior state officials. The aircraft is equipped with special communication systems and security-focused defensive equipment. The tail features the Egyptian flag and the Eagle of the Republic.
📸: Dirk Grothe (Flickr)
