Donald Trump says Air Force One deal too costly, seeks cancellation of order

Washington: President elect-Donald Trump has called for cancellation of a brand new 747 Air Force One, which is being built by Boeing.

Trump, who is set to take over US presidency, claims the new aircraft to be too expensive.

In a Twitter post earlier Trump said: “Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!”

Meanwhile, reacting to Trump's tweet, the White House defended the deal of new Air Force One aircrafts with Boeing company.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said: "I think the American people would expect that future presidents would benefit from unique and upgraded capabilities while flying aboard Air Force One."

Converting a pair of 747-8 jumbo jets to state-of-the-art luxury command centers by 2024 had been estimated to cost USD 3 billion when Boeing was picked for the job in January 2015.

The legendary light blue and white liveried jets -- "United States of America" emblazoned on the fuselage and an American flag on the tail -- are a powerful symbol of US might.

The two 747-200 aircrafts currently used as Air Force One has been in flight since the Reagon era in 1980s. Though the two planes have been heavily modified, they are due to reach the end of their planned 30-year life in 2017.

In 2009, President Barack Obama halted a project to replace the Marine One helicopters that ferry the president.

Costs had soared to nearly USD 11.5 billion after the 28 helicopters were ordered in 2005.