Boris Johnson is repainting the UK prime minister's plane from grey to red, white and blue — for $1.1 million
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants the aircraft that he and senior members of the royal family use to look a little more representative of the country's colors. His office said this week that the government's official Airbus A330 was in the process of getting a red, white and blue "rebranding" to "better represent" the country when the aircraft travels internationally. Currently, the aircraft is painted grey, just like all other transport airplanes used by the Royal Air Force.
The repainting will cost about £900,000, or $1.1 million, according to the British government. The paint job in the colours of the Union Jack represented "value for money," the government said, but opposition politicians disagreed, saying the money should have been spent to help coronavirus victims. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told a press conference the expense was part of an effort to promote Great Britain around the world.
Related: How does the royal family fly?
The plane is known as Voyager in Royal Air Force service, and it's one of a fleet of nine A330s used as transport and tankers for inflight refueling of other aircraft. It's used by the prime minister, other ministers and senior members of the royal family when they travel on official engagements. Then-prime minister David Cameron began using it in 2016, after a retrofitting that cost £10 million, or $12.4 million. According to the government, using the Voyager to fly senior officials was going to be cheaper than chartering commercial jets, as had been done until then. At that point the United Kingdom was, in fact, the only one among the Group of Seven industrialized countries without a dedicated government VIP jet.
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The Voyager is a militarized version of the Airbus A330-200, which several other air forces around the world use as flying tanker and transport. The A330 MRTT, for "multi-role tanker transport," almost became the new main tanker for the U.S. Air Force too. In 2008, the European jet was selected by the USAF over the Boeing KC-46, a derivative of the 767 — but a protest by Boeing led to a re-bidding of the contract and a victory by the American company.
The prime ministerial A330 is currently in Cambridgeshire, where it'll be undergoing the repainting. Even when it gets its new paint job, the Voyager will still be able to perform its duties as tanker and military transport.
"This will mean that the plane can better represent the U.K. around the world with national branding, which will be in line with many other leaders' planes", a Downing Street spokesperson told The Guardian.
Other world leaders are getting new or updated modes of transportation. In March, we got a first look at the new German Airbus A350, used to carry the chancellor, president and other high-level officials. And in the U.S., the president will get two new Air Force Ones when the very expensive modification of two civilian Boeing 747s is completed in 2024.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.