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The first of the RAAF’s new Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ aircraft has touched down in Australia.
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Registered A62-001, the jet is one of two slated to arrive in coming months and will be used to fly government ministers and the Governor-General, replacing two ageing 737-700s. A62-001 touched down at Canberra Airport on Friday, 12 July.
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) are specially modified versions of Boeing’s traditional commercial aircraft, designed to accommodate VIPs.
“The two new BBJ aircraft are part of the medium-capacity Special Purpose Aircraft replacement program and will replace the current fleet of two 737-700 BBJ aircraft based at Defence Establishment Fairbairn,” the Defence Force said.
“The 737-8 BBJ supports the government to conduct business in a timely, efficient and secure manner, enabling government business to continue when commercial flight options are not available or not suitable.
“The new BBJ can transport up to 30 passengers, with fewer refuelling stops and improved amenities than the current aircraft.”
The Australian revealed in May that taxpayers will pay $450 million for the two new BBJ because the cost of leasing replacements for 12 years rose from $372 million to $550 million, making an outright purchase more affordable.
“The Albanese government is committed to ensuring Defence acquisitions represent best value for money,” a government spokesperson said earlier this year.
The RAAF currently has access to three leased Dassault Falcon 7X business jets that can carry 14 passengers and 12 KA350 King Airs that only seat up to eight.
Meanwhile, the two existing Boeing 737-700 BBJs – A36-001 and A36-002 – can carry up to 30 people but are now over 23 years old each.
The aircraft are operated out of Canberra’s RAAF Fairbairn base by the Air Force’s No. 34 Squadron.
After Bonza’s demise, Virgin Australia is currently the only Australian airline to operate the 737 MAX family, having received its seventh MAX 8 in June.
Virgin’s order of 737 MAX aircraft, including all 25 of its MAX 10s, has been delayed by Boeing’s ongoing troubles, including the now infamous incident in which a door plug blew out on an Alaska Airlines plane at the start of the year.
This led to the planemaker recording a US$355 million net loss in the March quarter after the FAA barred it from ramping up MAX production; it subsequently pleaded guilty to felony charges of conspiring to defraud the US government earlier this month.
