It may not surprise you to learn that world leaders spend a lot of time travelling, whether heading to a global summit, embarking on a state tour, or simply getting from one side of their home nation to the other.
But most don't just hop on the next train or bus, no matter how much pressure they might be under to cut their carbon footprints.
From cars with incredible security features to luxury superyachts – and even a submarine – read on to discover how politicians and select royalty choose to travel around the world. All dollar amounts in US dollars and past currency conversions correct for the time.
When he needs to fly, Joe Biden climbs aboard Air Force One. "Air Force One" is actually used to describe any US Air Force plane that's carrying the American president, although in practice it specifically refers to two highly-customised Boeing 747-200B series aircraft.
Boasting 4,000 square feet (372 square metres) of floor space split over three levels, there's a reason why these planes have been nicknamed the "flying Oval Office" by Boeing. As well as boasting a presidential suite and offices, the jets contain two kitchens, a medical operating room, and quarters for 70 passengers and 26 crew members.
Of course, all this doesn’t come cheap. According to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Judicial Watch several years ago, Air Force One costs upward of $200,000 (£157k) for every hour it flies.
President Biden also has multiple helicopters at his disposal, including VH-3D Sea Kings and VH-60N White Hawks. Either can be referred to as "Marine One" if the president is aboard.
The Sea King is the larger of the two models, stretching 73 feet (22m), while the White Hawks each span 65 feet (20m).
Of course, the president can’t go anywhere without an extensive security detail. When Biden visited Cornwall in the UK for the G7 summit in June 2021, a trio of Osprey MV-22 helicopters – which can accommodate 24 Marines plus crew – kept a watchful eye on him as he travelled.
The US president’s Cadillac stretch limo, affectionately nicknamed "The Beast", is quite possibly the most secure car on the planet.
It boasts run-flat reinforced Kevlar tyres, airtight protection against chemical attacks, its own independent oxygen supply, eight-inch-thick (200mm) armour-plated doors, five-inch-thick (130mm) bulletproof glass, blast-resistant under-plate armour, and a bullet-resistant fuel tank. There's even a Biden-matching blood bank in the trunk, just in case.
The car, reportedly worth around $1.5 million (£1.2m), can also put out a smokescreen, fire tear gas, and even lay down an oil slick to shake off pursuers. James Bond, eat your heart out.
The UK used to charter commercial planes for state business, but as of 2015, a Royal Air Force Airbus A330 has been the prime minister's official plane. Post-acquisition, the jet reportedly underwent a $13 million (£10m) makeover, which included the addition of extra security and missile defence systems.
In 2020, then-PM Boris Johnson sparked controversy by spending $1 million (£785k) on a new paint job for the jet, switching it from grey to a more patriotic red, white, and blue colour scheme. He was also mocked for flying from London to the 2021 G7 event in Cornwall. Climate change was high on the summit's agenda, and critics pointed out that Johnson could have taken a train from the English capital to the southwest region.
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak also attracted his fair share of reproval, with stats showing he's taken more VIP flights around the UK than any of his predecessors. The BBC reported last year that Sunak took one flight every eight days during his first months in office, with certain trips proving particularly contentious...
Sunak quickly gained a reputation for his frequent use of jets and helicopters. The former PM completed 23 domestic flights in just 187 days last year, using aircraft belonging to the RAF's 32 Squadron.
As well as two Dassault Falcon 900LX jets, the fleet contains a helicopter that Sunak has repeatedly flown around the UK – even when the same journey would take a similar amount of time (and be considerably cheaper) by train.
At the end of August 2023, Sunak used the taxpayer-funded chopper to fly from London to Norwich, a trip that would have taken an hour and 45 minutes and cost around $63 (£50) by train. He also raised eyebrows when he borrowed a helicopter from a Tory donor to fly less than 200 miles from London to Chester last July.
It remains to be seen how the travel habits of Labour leader Keir Starmer, who was elected in July this year, will compare to those of his predecessor. Watch this space...
Nicknamed "Can Force One", this 154-feet-long (47m) Airbus CC-150 Polaris is the jet of choice for Canada's prime minister.
The model currently in use is around 36 years old and is far from reliable. In 2018, Justin Trudeau was forced to stop in Rome en route to India when the plane suffered a technical malfunction. The Canadian PM was also made to wait for a replacement jet last year when another trip to India saw him stranded again after more issues with the plane.
According to government plans, Can Force One is scheduled to be replaced at some point between 2026 and 2036. There are four other jets in the Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of CC-150 Polaris military transport planes, with one used for transporting VIP guests, such as members of the British royal family, to and from Canada. Replacing the ageing fleet is expected to cost between $500 million (£394m) and $1.5 billion (£1.2bn).
There have been longstanding rumours that the timeline for the upgrade could be fast-tracked. But while he waits, Can Force One isn't the only jet at Trudeau's disposal.
The politician flew around in his Boeing 737-800 during his campaign trails – and there's no mistaking who the jet belongs to. Emblazoned with his name, the plane has been pictured during his 2015 and 2019 campaigns, remaining unscathed despite sustaining brief damage to its left wing when a media bus tried to drive underneath it.
Trudeau's use of the private jet has been criticised, and he's faced claims of hypocrisy given his environmental policies.
When he's back on the ground, Trudeau's ride of choice is typically a customised 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, a Canadian-made car that features bulletproof glass.
Trudeau reportedly uses the car when travelling in a motorcade. Christine L’Hébreux, a member of the Media Relations Service for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, previously revealed: "There are several models of various years and they are all used on a rotational basis. Primarily, we make use of Chevrolet Suburbans, but we also have other options. The Prime Minister has no specific model that he uses more frequently than others."
As Europe's largest economy, it's perhaps little wonder that Germany also boasts the EU's largest governmental jets. The nation has three Airbus A350s, all initially nicknamed "Merkel One" after Angela, the chancellor who was in power when they were purchased. In 2024, the jets are used by Olaf Scholz, who succeeded Angela Merkel in 2021.
They're the world’s first A350s to be used for VIP purposes, with $340 million (£267m) spent on cabin equipment and a further $269 million (£211m) invested in a state-of-the-art missile defence system. The trio of A350s are thought to have cost around $1.3 billion €1.2bn/£1bn) in total.
Merkel tended to use different car brands to support Germany's car industry, though she typically travelled in an Audi A8 L Security. Heavily armoured, the vehicle cost around $1.3 million (£1m) and was designed to withstand everything from machine gun fire to a grenade blast.
Olaf Scholz, meanwhile, opted for a Mercedes S 680 Guard when he took office in December 2021. The chancellor's vehicle of choice weighs 4.2 tonnes, approximately twice the weight of the standard civilian model. As well as a bulletproof exterior, the car also contains a fresh air tank in case passengers are attacked by gas or smoke. According to online reports, Scholz now has the most powerful car of any German chancellor to date, with prices for the vehicle starting at $585,000 (€537/£460k).
The prime ministerial limousine used by the head of Australia's government is a white BMW 7 Series, similar to the one pictured. Often referred to as "C1" (which stands for "Commonwealth 1") due to its number plate, the model driven today has been in use since 2014 and is fitted with bulletproof doors and windows.
Prices for a non-modified BMW 7 Series start from around $130,000 (£102k). The addition of the bulletproof glass, not to mention the fuel tank that can withstand a roadside bomb, will have likely made current PM Anthony Albanese's vehicle significantly more expensive.
Details of Albanese's official private jet are few and far between. We do know that the No. 34 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force operates a fleet of five planes for VIP members of the government. This quintet reportedly includes two Boeing 737 jets, which were acquired in 2002.
We also know that Albanese is in no hurry to find alternative methods of transport. In fact, he's earned himself the nickname "Airbus Albo" for his regular use of private jets. He drew particular criticism for chartering his official plane to fly to London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022 – despite the British royal family's request that world leaders travel on commercial flights – and Sky News commentator James Bolt has recently said: "Obviously, for so many people, their New Year's resolution is to travel more, but [Albanese] has got to travel less."
Former New Zealand PM Chris Hipkins had little time to enjoy the transport trappings that came with his role. He replaced Jacinda Ardern in January 2023, but his Labour-led government was defeated in a 2023 general election. It’s unclear which car current PM Christopher Luxon favours, but we know that Jacinda Ardern upgraded to an all-electric Audi e-tron SUV in 2021, replacing the government's diesel BMW 7 series vehicles.
The electric cars cost around $106,000 (£83k) each, and the New Zealand government purchased three. Ardern's vehicle had a child seat fitted when she welcomed her daughter Neve in 2018, making her the first world leader to give birth while in office since Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
You might expect New Zealand’s prime ministerial jet to follow in the footsteps of its foreign counterparts by being nicknamed "New Zealand Force One". However, the nation's 30-year-old Boeing 757 is simply referred to as "Betty".
Recently, it's proved so faulty that a backup jet was sent just in case Betty struggled to get Hipkins home from a trip to China last June.
Betty, shown here with Ardern and Britain's Prince William, is scheduled to be replaced in 2030.
Elected president at the age of 39, Emmanuel Macron is France’s youngest head of state since Napoléon. He's also the first French leader to ride in an SUV for his inauguration. That said, the vehicle's manufacturer – DS, a subsidiary of Peugeot – was in keeping with tradition, with DS models having transported French presidents for decades.
DS has even been credited with saving the life of the former French president Charles De Gaulle, whose car was sprayed with bullets in a 1962 assassination attempt.
President Macron is also said to have nine planes and three helicopters at his disposal, including an Airbus A330-200 that reportedly cost $270 million (£212m).
The aircraft has a command centre, message encryption, and a sound-proof conference room, catering for all the French president’s in-the-air needs.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has a "seven-star" 200-foot (61m) superyacht (similar to the one pictured), according to US basketball star Dennis Rodman.
In an interview with the UK's The Sun newspaper back in 2013, unlikely source Rodman described the yacht, named Princess, as a "cross between a ferry and a Disney boat", adding that guests get "everything you want, he has the best".
The top-of-the-line Princess has a Fendi-designed interior and has been valued at around $8 million (£6.3m).
Kim Jong-un is also known for his love of luxury cars, with reports suggesting he has more than 100 in his collection.
For state visits, the North Korean leader uses two armoured Mercedes-Benz. The cars come packed with safety features – including bulletproof glass, sealed cabins, and reinforced plating. The vehicles are reportedly able to withstand both grenade attacks and landmine blasts.
As if that wasn’t enough, the cars are accompanied by a 12-man security squad, who jog alongside the vehicles wherever they go. Valued at around $500,000 (£393k) each due to the array of tech they boast, the regime managed to smuggle the luxurious armoured vehicles into the country in 2018, evading international sanctions.
Kim Jong-un's private jet of choice is a Cold War-era Ilyushin IL-62, which went out of production in 1995.
The plane's original design had seating for 200 passengers. However, the North Korean leader's model underwent a refurbishment several years ago, and the addition of white leather chairs, rosewood tables, and crystal ashtrays means it can no longer accommodate as many people. The renovations are estimated to have cost around $1.5 million (£1.2m) and may look similar to the private jet pictured here.
The Aurus Senat is the first Russian-produced official state car in decades and was unveiled at Vladimir Putin’s fourth inauguration ceremony in 2018, replacing the Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard.
It’s heavily armoured and can reportedly move its passenger seats to an automatically safer position in the event of a collision. Without the security modifications, the Aurus Senat costs around $274,000 (£215k).
Naturally, the Russian leader doesn't just travel by land. Putin is reportedly the owner of the superyacht Scheherazade. Built in 2020, it's said to be the most luxurious of his three private boats.
With a length of 459 feet (140m), the yacht is estimated to have cost as much as $700 million (£550m) and boasts a grand piano, a solid gold toilet roll holder, and even a dance floor that turns into a swimming pool.
The Scheherazade was impounded by the Italian government in May 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While it remains in port to this day, recent reports claim work to repair and refit the vessel has been allowed to proceed, though it's unclear who's footing the bill.
As well as Scheherazade, Putin is the proud owner of the superyacht Killer Whale (previously named Graceful).
The boat has been at the centre of an investigation. Leaked reports revealed it had suddenly been moved from Germany, where it was undergoing major repairs, to Russia in February 2022, just a few weeks before Putin invaded Ukraine.
It's since been reported that Killer Whale underwent remodelling elsewhere before arriving back in St. Petersburg. Among the modifications were the fitting of "wooden products" worth 240 million rubles ($2.4m/£1.9m), as well as a sofa that cost 4 million rubles ($41k/£32k).
President Putin also has a private jet, a Russian-made IL-96-300PU. But it's not just the 213-foot (65m) aeroplane that takes to the skies when he does. When he flies, Putin is protected by an air fleet of 64 planes and 68 helicopters, the largest ever recorded.
As with many planes used by world leaders, the interior is said to be lavishly decorated with gold accents, with features including an office, bedroom, and even a gym.
Never shy in playing up to his action man image, President Putin was filmed manning a submarine in 2019. Why? He was investigating the wreck of a Soviet submarine that had been sunk during World War II and lay at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland.
The Russian leader descended 200 feet (60m) in the $2.4 million (£1.9m) sub to explore the shipwreck. And that's not the only time Putin has travelled underwater. In 2015, he piloted a submarine during a controversial visit to the Crimean peninsula.
The Qatari royal family has a fleet of over a dozen jets, which form a private airline known as Qatar Amiri Flight (QAF). Details of their aircraft are usually kept top secret, although we do know they were looking to sell off this lavish Boeing 747-8 back in 2020.
No price was listed, but it's safe to assume that potential buyers would have needed a few hundred million dollars to secure it.
The Saudi royal family is estimated to have a combined net worth of over $1 trillion (£788bn), making them the world’s richest royals. So it’s no surprise to discover they own one of the largest superyachts on the planet, the Prince Abdulaziz.
Measuring 482 feet (147m) in length, it was the longest yacht in the world until 2006 and has space to accommodate 64 guests and 65 crew members. The yacht, which boasts its own helipad, is estimated to be worth at least $100 million (£79m).
Being one of the richest people on the planet means the sky’s quite literally the limit for the Sultan of Brunei. And not only does Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah own a fleet of private aircraft – he also likes to fly them himself.
The pick of his private jets is arguably the Boeing 747 he acquired from Lufthansa a few years ago, reportedly for around $100 million (£79m). The Sultan then splashed out a further $120 million (£94m) to upgrade the plane's interior, adding features such as solid gold washbasins.
The Hongqi L5 used by Xi Jinping is 18 feet (5.5m) long and 6.5 feet (2m) wide, so it's safe to assume the Chinese president isn’t short of legroom in his official car.
Hongqi is China’s premier car manufacturer and is beloved of the country’s elite. Costing around $800,000 (£628k), the L5 is the most expensive Chinese car on the market.
Pope Francis ditched his so-called "Popemobiles" – vehicles with bullet-proof glass domes that he used during public appearances – in 2014, saying that he wanted to be able to engage with ordinary people instead. When asked about the security risk, the pontiff said: "Let's face it, at my age I don't have much to lose."
Pope Francis still uses an open-topped, non-bulletproof vehicle when the occasion demands. For example, he rode in a carbon-neutral, hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai (pictured) that was gifted to him in 2020 during a visit to Japan. He's also known to drive himself around Vatican City in a modest 1984 Renault 4.
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