A few weeks ago I wrote about how the Qatar royal family was looking to sell one of their two Boeing 747-8s. These were part of the Qatar Amiri fleet, which includes over a dozen planes.
As you might expect, this 747-8 had a ridiculous interior. This plane, with the tail number VQ-BSK, was delivered in December 2012, then the interior was completed in December 2014, and the aircraft finally entered service in January 2015. So the plane has only been in service for a bit over three years, and hasn’t flown all that much during that time.
The royal family was looking to sell this plane, though I couldn’t help but wonder who they were expecting to sell it to, as I’d imagine they’re going after a fairly limited market.
I guess it didn’t take long, but the royal family has given up on trying to sell the plane, and instead has come up with another way to offload it.
The Qatar royal family has gifted one of their 747-8s to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The plane touched down in Istanbul on Wednesday, and joins Turkey’s fleet of 11 other state jets, the largest of which is an A340. So the 747-8 represents a significant upgrade.
As you might expect, this was a pretty controversial move, given that this comes at the same time that the government is calling for austerity measures.
As the deputy of Turkey’s main opposition party said:
“The presidential palace calls on the people of Turkey to save on almost daily basis. But the same people who call for belt-tightening measures cannot give up on luxury and ostentation,.”
Qatar and Turkey have a pretty close relationship, and in particular given Qatar’s current political situation with neighbors, I imagine they value their relationship with Turkey more than ever before.
While this $400 million jet is obviously quite a nice gift, it’s not exactly cheap to operate.
(Tip of the hat to Micah)
Seems I am the only one who does not find the interior "hideous"...that shade of purple just doesn't translate well in the pictures...western and oriental sensibilities differ when it comes to decor...oriental favors ornate and somewhat over the top...in view of that - it's not too bad...
Debit are you on drugs again?
Your pipe from Qatar to Europe needs to go thru Saudi first.
And that ain't happenin.
And Mattt are you that stupid and clueless Republican who admires Debit?
In the 90’s, my dad flew on a Saudi royal plane and from their royal terminal as well (cavernous was how he described it).
He said the interior of the plane was cream and gold, and there were fresh flowers everywhere. Every time they stopped, new flowers were brought in.
I remember that when he arrived, his bags had tags that said “VVIP” on them and that’s it.
He also said that at the palace...
In the 90’s, my dad flew on a Saudi royal plane and from their royal terminal as well (cavernous was how he described it).
He said the interior of the plane was cream and gold, and there were fresh flowers everywhere. Every time they stopped, new flowers were brought in.
I remember that when he arrived, his bags had tags that said “VVIP” on them and that’s it.
He also said that at the palace he stayed at in Riyadh, the faucets in his room appeared to be made of gold. There were also numerous bowls of dates and chocolates scattered around the palace.
These ratbag royals are so far removed from reality that they don't see the negative consequences of these preposterous gifts. If they want to prop up Erdogan, then it would be better to be a bit more subtle, rather than with this garish monstrosity.
Exactly the same thing with the Saudi royals and Malaysia: sending Najib a nice gift of USD 1 billion, for eg.
The presumption in both cases must have been...
These ratbag royals are so far removed from reality that they don't see the negative consequences of these preposterous gifts. If they want to prop up Erdogan, then it would be better to be a bit more subtle, rather than with this garish monstrosity.
Exactly the same thing with the Saudi royals and Malaysia: sending Najib a nice gift of USD 1 billion, for eg.
The presumption in both cases must have been that these demagogues would hang on forever; and that the press wouldn't have a field day with it.
Understandable, given that they're only a generation out of the desert . Give them time and they'll master the more subtle forms of bribery , interference and corruption ( ie western style)
Erdogan sold the lives of Turkish soldiers in return for this plane and 15 bn USD to save the economy.
Let's not forget that the State of Qatar just pledged to shore up Turkey's banking sector’s shaky finances with loans worth $15bn. The agreement with Qatar was calculated to help Turkey avoid having to ask the International Monetary Fund for emergency funding.
Soooo........?
Sadly, or alarmingly, this eye-watering colour palette featuring a hideous shade of blue is quite common in Qatar, especially at many of it's mid-range OTT city hotels. Fortunately QR consulted with someone with western sensibilities in choosing it's colour scheme.
@Debit is generally funny but also generally well informed. It's pretty interesting how the nonsensical tangents touch on so many subjects.
And whoever is trying to fake being @Endre, stop. He's ridiculous enough on his own without a copycat.
Boy, looks like the Gulf rift is really serious. I could not be happier because the more that the genocidal wet-behind-the-ears Saudi MBS piece of shit is isolated the better for the world. The next gift might be to the Iranians; they stepped up when the feuding sheikhs hit the Qataris.
ELTEETRAV UR S LIBERAL IDIOT!!!ALWAYS BRINGING IN SOCIALIST LEFT SIDED CRAP POLITICS
Its nice to see Katar and Turkee, two African nations, get along.
Jokes about Qatari and especially Turkish (LOL Erdogan) write themselves, but this 747-8 is one sweet gift befitting only the most sophisticated autocrats. With its gleaming white exterior and sumptuous purple leather interior, even Presidents Trump and Putin must be green with envy.
Like the GoT-themed Budweiser commercial, "You, sir, are a true friend of the crown. Dilly, Dilly!"
@SeanM
Ahh, the never ending wars of what-ifs and politics.
My turn to give it a stab from following the news too. Turkey didn't prevented the war, USA (Rex Tillerson) did.
Haters gonna hate but I once was the head butler of shoe services of the wait staff of the emir if Qatar.
I used to sit at the corner on the floor in that photo waiting for the emir to throw his dirty underwear to be washed.
“Calling back on costs”
Were you trying to say “cutting back on costs?”
Are you guys a bunch of idiots?? If you haven't followed the news over the past 2 years, let me educate you. Qatar is isolates by its neighbours and was about to get invaded by Saudi forces... until Turkey sent it's troops to Qatar to protect the regime.
Gotta love purple leather!
The corrupt use the cover of religion. Happens in Turkey and happens in the USA. Turkey will give gas pipeline access to Qatar on the way to Europe. What do you think the Syrian civil war was about?
Morons follow these religious leaders when their motives are clear to the neutral observers.
Said it before only two kinds of Republicans the corrupt and evil or stupid and clueless.
With that interior, they really should have gifted it to the US to use as the new Trump Force 1.
God I hope Turkey redecorates that ridiculously heinous interior. I mean, with all the money they "saved" by not buying their own 747-8, they certainly have the funds to de-gaudy it, right? Right? Guys?
I wonder what kind of favor/negotiation the President of Turkey made in order to receive such a generous gift! Its a shame Turkey is such a corrupt country.
So many people to give it to, why Turkey?
Thanksgiving is around the corner?
The cabin is stuffed with contraband?
Dry cleaning and laundry??
Wedding gift?
Location of Patriot launchers in Turkey?
@Debit need your help here.
I'm sorry, but as accurate as it may be, "White 747-800" just doesn't have the same ring as "White Elephant".