Among Air Force One and Two, which are the president's exclusive aircraft, Two was replaced at the end of last year with an eco-friendly (high-efficiency) model for the first time in 40 years. Air Force Two is the reserve plane mainly used by the first lady, the prime minister, and state guests, and the president uses it for domestic schedules such as in Busan and Yeosu. President Lee Jae-myung has not yet boarded Air Force Two.
According to the presidential office and the aviation industry on the 23rd, Air Force Two was spotted moving from Busan Gimhae Airport to Seoul Airport on the 5th, while the president's overseas tour schedule was underway.
The new Air Force Two is Boeing's high-efficiency B737-8 MAX. It was delivered by Boeing at the end of last year, and Korean Air Lines is said to be carrying out seat retrofitting and maintenance, as well as training and education for Air Force operating personnel such as pilots, cabin crew, mechanics, and ground handling staff.
President Lee Jae-myung visited Japan for a one-night, two-day trip starting on the 13th and used Air Force One. It was the same when making a state visit to China for three nights and four days starting on the 4th. Both times, he boarded and disembarked Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, with first lady Kim Hea-kyung.
When a large delegation accompanies the president, Air Force Two sometimes moves together, but this time it did not, according to assessments. The presidential office did not disclose the schedule for the presidential aircraft, calling it top secret.
A senior aviation industry official said, "Preparation to serve as the dedicated aircraft has only just been completed, and unless there are special circumstances, Air Force Two does not move together when One is in motion."
It has been 40 years since Air Force Two was replaced. The Air Force and Korean Air Lines signed a replacement contract in 2023. Korean Air Lines purchased the aircraft last year for about $117 million (about 166.4 billion won) and leased it to the Air Force and the presidential office for around 250 billion won.
The previous Two was a B733 model with a maximum range of about 4,170 km. The new Two has a maximum range of 6,570 km and can operate not only to Southeast Asia but also to Guam. As a high-efficiency model, it can cut fuel consumption by more than 15% compared to the previous aircraft, and carbon emissions are also about 13% lower.
Depending on the airline, the B737-8 MAX can be configured with 138 to 189 seats. Air Force Two underwent interior retrofitting in Hamburg, Germany, but the number of seats was not disclosed.
The president often uses Two for domestic schedules. President Lee Jae-myung took Air Force Two when visiting Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, an area hit by flooding, in July last year. Otherwise, it is used by the first lady, the prime minister, and state guests. Foreign heads of state also use it when traveling within the country.
Air Force One, which the president mainly uses, is a large "jumbo jet"-level aircraft. The current Air Force One is the B747-8i model, which the president began using in 2023. This, too, is a high-efficiency model, and the lease expense is around 305.7 billion won. The seat count is 368 to 605.
An aviation industry official said, "Because the presidential aircraft reflects the nation's stature, the highest-specification plane is brought in at the time of contract," adding, "For now, it is being leased through Korean Air Lines, a major national carrier, but because it is used for decades, the presidential office is also reviewing a plan to purchase the aircraft directly."