[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Mexican media reported that Korean airline Krienza Air has expressed its intention to acquire the Mexican presidential aircraft. The presidential aircraft has been on the market since 2018 due to the Mexican government's austerity policy, and all sales attempts for over a year have failed. Krienza Air has shown interest in purchasing for over a year and is currently awaiting a response from the Mexican government.
On the 19th (local time), local media including Mexico's SDP News reported that Na Beom-su, CEO of Ceritos Holdings and Krienza Air, indicated an intention to purchase the Mexican presidential aircraft. Krienza Air has expressed purchase interest for over a year, and its local agent in Mexico is currently awaiting a response from the Mexican government. The expected sale price is estimated at around $130 million (approximately 150.9 billion KRW). Mexican local media reported that Krienza Air stated it can pay the aircraft price immediately.
The Mexican presidential aircraft is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner model, purchased by Mexico's former president Enrique Pe?a Nieto from Boeing in 2016 for $218 million. This aircraft, originally with about 280 seats, was converted into a presidential aircraft reducing seats to 80, and equipped with a luxury bedroom and private bathroom, drawing criticism as an ultra-luxury presidential aircraft even at the time of purchase. Conscious of this public opinion, current Mexican President Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador declared the sale of the presidential aircraft immediately after taking office in December 2018 and has never used the aircraft even once.
Afterwards, the presidential aircraft was sent to Boeing's hangar in California, USA, awaiting sale, but with no buyer appearing for over a year, it is expected to return soon to Mexico. Despite lowering the sale price to half of the original purchase price, all sales efforts have failed. President Obrador proposed various alternatives for disposing of the hard-to-sell aircraft, including barter with medical equipment, joint purchases by companies, time-based leasing, and lottery issuance.
Meanwhile, Krienza Air, which expressed its intention to acquire the presidential aircraft, is an aircraft leasing company established in August 2016 through a strategic alliance of IMM Investment, Ceritos Holdings, and East Merchant Capital.
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