“We have made a decision to adapt one of our existing Voyager aircraft so that, in addition to its primary air tanking role, it can transport ministers and it will also be available for the Royal family to use”, the spokesman added.
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However, the huge outlay could prove to be controversial as most government departments face cuts in the coming months, with the first round of cost-cutting measures expected to be announced at next week’s spending review.
A government spokeswoman said a military air-to-air refuelling airplane would be refitted for the role, for around 10 million pounds.
According to the government, the new plane will save around £775,000 of taxpayer’s money every year, as it will cut down on charter flight costs.
There have been past proposals for a United Kingdom version of Air Force One, which transports the U.S. president, but the plans, initially set out by Tony Blair in 2006, were met with strong criticism.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh said: “It’s five years since David Cameron said he’d cut his travel costs by 25%, so any attempt to reduce them is already long overdue”.
The plans were blocked by Blair’s then chancellor Gordon Brown and iced completely when Brown took over the premiership.
Government sources say an RAF Voyager is to be converted to a ministerial transport for use on long-haul trips, at a cost of up to £10 million.
The source said: “This is about saving taxpayers’ money”. It’s also in Mr Cameron’s constituency of Witney, just half an hour away from his family home.
Downing Street now spends £6,700 per flying hour when the PM travels, but they expect that figure to drop to £2,000 with the new jet.
Earlier this year, the government drew controversy by paying £100,000 to hire an aircraft to take Cameron and members of the royal to the funeral of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
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The Independent noted that the British prime minister is the only leader of a G20 country that does not have his own aircraft at his disposal.
