Chinese President Xi Jinping relies on modified commercial airliners for overseas travel rather than a dedicated presidential aircraft ahead of an expected visit to Washington.
Attention has turned to the aircraft used by the Chinese leader for foreign trips, which is frequently referred to as a special plane, or zhuan ji in Chinese, according to the South China Morning Post.
Unlike the United States, which maintains dedicated aircraft for presidential transport, China pulls active passenger planes from the commercial fleet of state carrier Air China and adapts them specifically for presidential diplomatic missions.
The practice was highlighted during a recent diplomatic journey when Xi arrived in New Delhi aboard an Air China Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental for the BRICS summit, marking his first visit to India in seven years.
Commercial fleet adaptation and safety rationale
China has refrained from creating a permanent presidential aircraft since Xi took office in 2013, when his foreign travel was conducted using an Air China Boeing 747-400.
Lu Peixin, the former acting director of the protocol department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, explained that the policy serves to avoid unnecessary financial expenditure and special treatment while maximizing aircraft usage.
Lu added that continuous operational flight is essential for aircraft safety, noting that a complex jetliner containing millions of individual components should not remain parked on the ground for prolonged periods.
Air China operates as the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, and selecting jets from its active commercial inventory ensures the fleet receives routine maintenance and regular operational flight hours between diplomatic assignments.
Before any presidential journey, a specific crew is designated for the flight, and the selected plane undergoes rigorous safety inspections and temporary internal modifications.
Four-zone cabin layout and security protocols
The physical transformation of the airliner involves removing standard passenger seating to install custom furnishings for government officials.
According to Lu, passenger seats are dismantled and replaced with items such as sofas and beds, with technical assistance provided by specialists from the 34th Division of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Once the modification process is complete, the aircraft cabin is organized into four distinct operational sections to accommodate the delegation.
The front section serves as the dedicated zone for the national leader, featuring a private living room, an office study, and a bedroom.
The second section accommodates cabinet ministers and other senior government leaders, while the third section provides seating for bureau and department level officials.
The rear section of the cabin is reserved for accompanying journalists and operational support staff.
Public information regarding the aircraft used by Xi remains limited, as the dispatch, inspection, and preparation of these special planes are governed by strict security procedures and high levels of confidentiality.
Air Force One specifications and Trump fleet
The Chinese operational model stands in sharp contrast to the executive aviation system of the United States, where Air Force One is maintained as a permanent presidential transport unit.
Technically, Air Force One is the callsign assigned to any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the sitting president, though it commonly refers to two customized Boeing 747-200B VC-25A jets bearing tail numbers 28000 and 29000.
Detailed specifications published by the White House indicate that Air Force One provides 372 square metres of interior floor space spread across three distinct levels.
The aircraft includes a presidential suite featuring an office, lavatory, and conference room, along with dedicated quarters for senior advisers, United States Secret Service personnel, and members of the press corps.
It is equipped with an onboard medical suite that can function as a surgical operating room, supported by a physician who remains permanently on duty during flights, while two galleys can prepare up to 100 meals simultaneously.
Data from the United States Air Force confirms the aircraft possesses secure communications systems, independent front and rear stairs, autonomous baggage loading equipment, and in-flight refueling capability.
Temporary aircraft bridge and domestic jet debate
The American presidential aircraft is instantly recognizable by its livery, featuring the phrase United States of America, the American flag, and the official presidential seal painted on the fuselage.
Currently, United States President Donald Trump travels aboard a newer Boeing 747 variant, designated as the Boeing 747-8I VC-25B Bridge.
The aircraft was modified from Trump's own plane and delivered earlier this year for presidential service as a temporary measure to bridge the gap while production of future Boeing VC-25B models experiences delays.
Valued at approximately 400 million US dollars, the jet was presented to the United States government as a gift by the royal family of Qatar, and official data indicates it can fly faster and further than the older VC-25A fleet.
Meanwhile, observers have questioned in recent years why Xi does not travel abroad using the Chinese-made C919 airliner, a narrow-body jet built by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China that active domestic airlines already operate on commercial routes.
