Among the many desperate attempts to get rid of the expensive plane, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had toyed with the idea of actually awarding the plane to the winner, along with a year’s paid maintenance and parking. “We did not want to award a prize that would be a problem,” Lopez Obrador said. The remaining money is to pay to keep the airplane in flight condition while Lopez Obrador tries to sell or rent it. Lopez Obrador flies tourist class on commercial flights and views the jet, bought for more than US$200 million by his predecessor, as wasteful. Previously, Lopez Obrador had suggested bartering the plane in exchange for US medical equipment or selling it in shares to a group of businessmen for executive incentive programs.

Source: Taipei Times February 08, 2020 15:56 UTC