Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced Thursday that his new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with a price tag of $218.7 million, will arrive in Mexico City in the next few weeks.
The plane, named "José María Morelos y Pavón" after a leader of the Mexican Independence movement, will be more efficient than his previous plane, with better security and functionality, according to the presidential website.
It will also be the most modern and efficient plane used by any world leader.
The plane will be able to fly for 20 hours straight -- or over 9,000 miles -- without stopping to refuel. It can carry up to 250 passengers, along with a private presidential suite.
The exact date of delivery is dependent on FAA certification and testing.
Purchase of the plane was arranged in 2012 under former president Felipe Calderón. The government will be paying for the plane over the next 15 years.
Conoce las ventajas del nuevo Avión Presidencial Boeing 787-8 "José María Morelos y Pavón" https://t.co/Fyku5AUptd pic.twitter.com/mcMzHgLchB— Presidencia México (@PresidenciaMX) January 15, 2016
Even though $218 million is much less than previous price estimates (ranging from $580 million allocated by Calderón to more recent estimates of $430 million), the Dreamliner is causing controversy in Mexico: López Obrador, the leftist opponent of Nieto, came out in strong opposition of the new plane, saying that if elected in 2018, he would sell it: "You can not have a rich government with poor people."
The presidential administration took to Twitter to defend the plane, saying the final cost of the plane is less than what predecessor Calderón allotted. In another tweet, the administration said a study commissioned by Peña Nieto had concluded "the aircraft was acquired at an attractive price," and reselling to a commercial airliner would require taking a $128.2 million loss.
. @Banobras_mx contrató a empresa int. especializada en valuación y asesoramiento para compra y venta de aeronaves pic.twitter.com/wvI2jjhQh7— Presidencia México (@PresidenciaMX) January 15, 2016
Boeing 757-225 “Presidente Juárez” entre 1987 y 2015, ha realizado 2,662 vuelos en 953 giras nacionales https://t.co/WBeG4nDXSq— Presidencia México (@PresidenciaMX) January 15, 2016
In one tweet, the administration defended replacing the president's current plane -- a 28-year-old Boeing 757 that originally cost $43 million -- because of its noisiness prevents it from landing in some cities.
Actual Avión Presidencial, está impedido a aterrizar en distintas ciudades del mundo por los niveles de contaminación sonora que emite.— Presidencia México (@PresidenciaMX) January 15, 2016
See inside the new plane: