The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is set to enhance its VIP transport capabilities with the introduction of two Boeing 737-8BBJ aircraft, replacing its current 737-700BBJ fleet used for senior politicians and dignitaries.
The first of the new aircraft recently concluded test flights in Dallas, Texas, throughout June before ferrying to Camp Springs via Warner Robins on July 1. Awaiting delivery, the second 737-8BBJ, registered as N787BJ (msn 67960), is yet to be handed over.
These VIP aircraft will join the Royal Australian Air Force’s 34 Squadron based at Canberra’s Fairbairn RAAF base, marking a comprehensive renewal of the entire VIP fleet. Previously, three Bombardier Challenger CL-604s were replaced with three Falcon 7Xs in 2019. The decision to replace the 737-700BBJs, which faced reliability issues, comes as their leases expire this year.
Initially leased for 12 years through the National Australia Bank in a procurement contract awarded in 2021 at AUD371 million (USD246.6 million), currency fluctuations escalated the cost to AUD411 million (USD273.2 million) by early 2024. Projected costs were anticipated to exceed AUD550 million (USD365.6 million) by the lease’s conclusion, prompting the decision to purchase the two new aircraft outright.
