Presidential jet arrives one day after Erdoğan inauguration

ISTANBUL

The jet, registered as TC-TUR, landed at an Istanbul airport after a 13-hour flight from San Diego

Turkey’s new presidential jet, which was likened by some observers to the United States’ Air Force One, has been delivered, one day after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s inauguration.

The Airbus A330-200 Prestige, which landed at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport in the morning of Aug. 29, was ordered by Erdoğan two and a half years ago.

The 90-seat aircraft, which was modified by San Diego-based Gore Design, will start service in Ankara after customs and repainting procedures are completed in Istanbul.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy chair Sezgin Tanrıkulu filed a parliamentary question on Aug. 27, demanding a government response over reports that the aircraft cost 436 million Turkish Liras and was bought using state finances.

Tanrıkulu also asked if the name of the current ATA jet, which refers to Turkey’s first president and the republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, would be changed.

Four planes – ANA, ATA, GAP and DAP – are at the disposal of the president, prime minister and other ministers.

The government stresses that the current airplanes lack enough range for direct intercontinental flights. The new presidential jet will be able to fly from Turkey to places like Los Angeles and Australia non-stop.