Airbus A340-300: Former German government aircraft 16+02 up for sale again

The former German government aircraft 16+02 now belongs to Los Angeles-based CSDS Asset Management, aeroTELEGRAPH reported in mid-May. The company specializes in the sale and leasing of large VIP aircraft.

The Airbus A340-300, previously named Theodor Heuss, was listed as “available”. It did not comment further on the aircraft. However, the company has now put out a tender with UK gateway controller Emea.

the prices

There is a caption for the A340, now registered N577TA: “Former German presidential aircraft. 145 VIP seats with shower. For sale or lease” – translated: “Former German presidential aircraft. 145 seats, VIP cabin with shower. For sale or lease.”

Prices are not listed and are available only upon request. Berlin newspaperwhich first reported the offer, learned: “It was recently inspected and painted for around $12 million or purchased as we saw it for around $8 million.” aeroTELEGRAPH also asked for rental prices, but had not received a response by the time this article was published.

Once upon a time in Lufthansa service

The A340, now almost 24 years old, was delivered to Lufthansa in the fall of 2000. Until 2010, it carried up to 247 passengers with the license plate D-AIFB and the Christian name Gummersbach, eight in first class, 42 in business class and 197 in economy class.

The long-haul aircraft then moved to the Ministry of Defence's flight operations and was converted into a government aircraft. Business class seats appear to remain on board to this day, as photos from Controller Emea show.

Sisters 16+02 and 16+01

The 16+02 was phased out as planned in September 2023. Its sister A340, the 16+01, was actually supposed to stay until the end of 2024, but then had to retire in autumn 2023 after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was stranded in Abu Dhabi in August due to problems with the 16+01’s wing flaps.

Both aircraft were auctioned by the Federal Collection Society, or Vebeg for short. 16+02 went to the USA at the end of September 2023 and was first registered by the trust company Sky West Aviation Trustee. It then passed to CSDS in April 2024. Meanwhile, 16+01 was purchased by Lufthansa Technik to be dismantled into individual parts. It has been in Teruel, Spain, since mid-May 2024.

In the photo gallery above you can see the previous 16+02 from the inside. Clicking on the photo opens the gallery in large format.