Mexico has completed the sale of its presidential aircraft to Tajikistan, a move that was first announced years earlier when the government flagged the plane for sale. Reports indicate that Emomali Rahmon, the president of Tajikistan, is slated to be the passenger who would fly on the aircraft once transfer formalities are finalized.
Officials stated that a contract for the sale was signed, and Tajikistan’s authorities transferred a substantial sum to Mexico. The official estimate cited the amount of the transaction as 1,658,684,400 pesos, with the aim of supporting public priorities inside Mexico. Life.ru reported this development as part of the ongoing reassessment of the country’s assets and budget planning.
When converted at the current exchange rate, the payment exceeds 92 million dollars. Mexican authorities indicated that the funds would be directed toward the construction of two new hospitals, reflecting a shift in national priorities toward healthcare infrastructure and medical services for citizens in need.
The aircraft itself was originally ordered by former president Felipe Calderón in 2012 and entered service in February 2016 during the administration of Enrique Peña Nieto. Experts have estimated the plane’s value in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with initial valuations ranging from 220 million to as high as 400 million dollars. Since taking office in 2018, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had not used the aircraft for official travel and indicated for some time that the aircraft would be sold to support other national needs.
In the years since the decision to acquire the aircraft, the topic has remained a point of debate among policymakers and the public. Proponents argued that selling the plane would free public resources for essential services, while critics cautioned about potential risks or loss of strategic travel capabilities for high-level government engagements. The latest sale confirms a lasting shift away from a fleet that once symbolized executive reach toward a model that prioritizes direct investment in health and social programs.
As the sale proceeds, observers note that the price and terms appear to reflect broader trends in state asset management, where governments reassess luxury or non-essential assets in favor of tangible domestic improvements. The transaction also highlights how international partners may influence or participate in such deals, underscoring the evolving relationship between national budgets and international procurement practices.
Details about the final disposition of the aircraft once it leaves the Mexican registry and the delivery timeline to Tajikistan remain to be confirmed. Analysts emphasize that administrative steps, regulatory approvals, and logistical arrangements will shape when the jet becomes operational under its new ownership, as well as how the proceeds will be allocated across healthcare facilities and related programs in Mexico. Life.ru provided the contemporary timeline and financial particulars that frame this latest chapter in the aircraft’s long service history.