As promised during his campaign for president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador made it clear that he would not use the Dreamliner because he considered the aircraft an “excess”, making the presidential Boeing 787-8 from Mexico still available for a new operator.
Now valued at $130 million and without official flights since December 2018, the Mexican government has accumulated numerous frustrated attempts to get rid of the Dreamliner, which, incidentally, the most “unusual” moment in getting rid of the plane was when they organized a raffle, with the ticket costing 500 pesos (R$ 131 at the quotation on 02/10/21) in January 2020 .
Although the aircraft cost “only” US$115 million when it was acquired in 2012, additional adaptations to make the 787 presidential have made the values jump to US$370 million, figures that go far beyond the current value for its sale.
As time ed, the luxurious “TP-01” did not find any buyers, however, the costs to keep an aircraft preserved and fully operational have generated onerous costs.
According to the portal Simple Flying, the 787 that now bears the registration number XC-MEX is costing Mexico's public coffers about $16 million (about R$85 million at current prices) just to keep the aircraft in storage.
Recently, the aircraft even made flights between Mexico City and Victorville, a place well known for storing aircraft, in addition to being the final destination of many aircraft, which become a feast for the secondary market for the purchase and sale of parts.
It remains to be seen how the outcome of this “Mexican soap opera” will be, will this 787 fly again on official visits by the Mexican president, or will there be an operator willing to purchase a Dreamliner with a very luxurious interior? Place your bets!
Check out the luxurious interior of the aircraft
