The Federal Council is upgrading and buying a new government aircraft for CHF 103 million. 

The Bombardier Global 7500 jet is scheduled to replace the 21-year-old Cessna Citation Excel 560XL from 2025. This was decided by the Federal Council on Wednesday.

The state aircraft is no longer state-of-the-art. According to the Federal Council, this has increasingly negative effects on availability due to increased maintenance work and repairs, on safety and also on environmental compatibility.

The price of the new plane also includes a military radio system, a self-defense system, ground material and spare parts. In theory, the new jet offers space for up to twenty seats and has a range of over 14,000 kilometers, which roughly corresponds to a distance from Switzerland to Australia. The Bombardier Global 7500 is considered one of the largest business jets in the world.

For comparison: The previous Cessna Citiation has space for seven passengers and has a range of only around 3000 kilometers.

The Swiss state aircraft fleet comprises a total of two aircraft. Since 2013, the federal government has also been using a 2008 Dassault Falcon 900EX with space for 14 passengers. The former government aircraft of Monaco was in the service of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The Federal Council also wants to replace this second jet. However, he postponed the transaction due to the current financial situation of the federal budget. He intends to check it again at a later date.

The two jets of the Swiss air transport service are used, for example, for trips to the Federal Council, for transporting other magistrates, but also for evacuations, emergency aid in the event of environmental disasters and humanitarian emergencies abroad.

Keystone/SDA©