Simple Flying has said that the new presidential plane the Egyptian government bought that caused a stir recently is an old one, but Egypt bought it at the price of a modern aircraft of the same type. It said that the Egyptian Presidency bought a $487 million plane known for its luxurious equipment and high operation and maintenance costs. The leading aviation news website added that Egypt requested modifications to the Boeing B747-8 aircraft to suit President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

According to The Drive, the plane, dubbed the Queen of the Sky, is currently used by governments, including the United States, South Korea, Turkey and Qatar. It consumes more than 10,000 litres of gasoline per hour, and the operating cost exceeds 18 thousand dollars. The price to change its four engines together is more than $50 million, with a single engine priced at $13 million, according to Executive Flyer. The Egyptian government’s purchase of the plane sparked criticism due to its high price when Egyptians suffered from a severe economic crisis.