Yesterday I saw a picture of what might just be the coolest-looking jet ever, and it sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole…
In this post:
Equatorial Guinea has an eye-catching Boeing 777
The government of Equatorial Guinea has a Boeing 777-200LR that it uses for government transport, and it has to be one of the coolest-looking liveries I’ve ever seen. Perhaps not coincidentally, the exterior of the jet makes no mention of the owner or the association with the government.
Let me of course acknowledge that Equatorial Guinea has a… questionable government. The country has become very rich with oil in recent years, though that money isn’t being spent on making the lives of citizens better, but is instead being used to enrich the lives of the leader and those who are close to him. He’s also one of the longest serving leaders of any country, as he has been in power for over 45 years, since 1979.
Presumably joy rides on this Boeing 777 is one of the many ways that the country’s oil money is being spent. What I find so interesting about this plane is how little information there is about it online. For what it’s worth, the plane is a roughly 10-year-old 777-200LR, with the registration code P4-SKN.
I’m curious, does anyone have a sense of what the interior of this jet looks like? It’s not often you’ll find a plane (even if VIP configured) with no pictures of the interior, but it’s possible that I’m missing something.
Unfortunately flight tracking for this jet is blocked, so it’s hard to know exactly what routes this plane has flown in recent times. I suspect there are a fair number of trips to London, Paris, etc. 😉
Ceiba International used to have a 777 with first class
On the topic of Equatorial Guinea and Boeing 777s, I can’t help but be reminded of something I came across in 2017. Ceiba International is an airline based in Equatorial Guinea. Going back nearly a decade, the airline had a 777 in its fleet, with the registration code CS-TQX, which even featured first class.
It was technically operated by Portuguese wet lease company White Airways, to get around European Union restrictions on airlines from Equatorial Guinea.
The plane was reportedly configured with 250 seats, including 22 first class seats, 28 business class seats, and 200 economy seats, though I never actually did see a picture of the first class seats.
I believe the jet was ultimately retired, and hasn’t operated commercial flights in a long time. However, just a couple of weeks ago, the plane flew from Malabo (SSG) to Rome (FCO). So I’m not sure if the plane is being parted out, is being prepared for reentry into service with another carrier, or what.
Bottom line
The government of Equatorial Guinea has a Boeing 777 that possibly has the coolest livery I’ve ever seen. This is a mysterious jet, as I can’t find many details about the interior, though I am mighty curious…
Anyone have more details about this Equatorial Guinea Boeing 777?
This is not corruption but state ownership of natural resources, just like done on America, like Alaska. Corruption in America is high taxes and jealous people.
Amateur hour! Here in ‘murica we do our corruption with 747-8s
Yes, our POTUS and crew are probably feeling cheated
Donny was embarrassed that his plane had a smaller, uh, “bulge” than planes owned by gulf leaders. So this flat top 777 would be a nonstarter for him.
I do think Donny would look great flying in that orange Dunkin plane. It would make his complexion look almost normal.
I‘m more interested in details of the B747 which Qatar gifted to the totally uncorrupt President of the USA.
The mainstream media had that well covered and has now moved on.
Registration P4-SKN…foreskin . Can’t fault them for lack of humour!
One is now awaiting the ‘holier than thou’ crowd to blame the government corruption on slavery.
What isn't corrupt in that part of the world?
The overwhelming majority of Africans are a friendly and upstanding people who simply had the misfortune of being born in the poorest economic conditions on the planet. Chinese investment in Africa is aiming to change that.
You cannot possibly be serious Arps!
@ Arps; get informed! I'm not talking about the general people but yes about those on "the top." "Poorest economic conditions"?? That continent is the richest one in minerals, only the money goes to the wrong ones. Why do you think the chineses are there? I lived between 2020 and 2022 on that continent, I know what I'm talking about.
Corruption is very much a global issue. For all us the live in the USA and Europe we should not act like it only exits in other places. It is Rampant here to. Just not alway visible to the naked eye although that seems to be changing.
Corruption is very much a global issue. For all us the live in the USA and Europe we should not act like it only exits in other places. It is Rampant here to. Just not alway visible to the naked eye although that seems to be changing.
Sadly, "...money isn’t being spent on making the lives of citizens better, but is instead being used to enrich the lives of the leader and those who are close to him" also applies to the US's current regime.
In the developed countries, corruption is somewhat isolated from common people and also spread over a broader higher echelon of people.
In poorer countries, corruption is prevalent at all levels but the uber curruption is limited to a small % of top people.
If you calculate the % of GDP or % of countries' budgets you can probably come out better in the poorer countries