The Biden administration has abandoned former President Donald Trump’s proposed red, white and dark-blue paint scheme for the next Air Force One aircraft. The decision preserves the long-standing light-blue-and-white appearance associated with the presidential fleet and avoids technical and financial complications linked to the darker design.

The replacement fleet comprises two modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft, intended to succeed the ageing 747-200 planes now used for presidential travel. An Air Force review found that the darker colours could create excessive heat, requiring extra testing and potentially increasing costs and delaying delivery; the existing design dates from the Kennedy era.