The French President defied the recession last year to order $390 million worth of planes, including an Airbus designed to be bigger than any flown by other European leaders, and two corporate run-arounds for shorter trips.
The first, a hugely luxurious Dassault Falcon 7X, has now been delivered complete with the hand-painted legend ‘Carla One’ glistening on its side, in honour of First Lady Carla Bruni.
‘She’s a beautiful plane and of course officially named after the President’s wife,’ said a source at the Villacoublay airbase near Paris, where the plane is currently under lock and key in a top secret hangar.
Aviation expert Jean Guisnel, of France’s Le Point magazine, said ‘the model is decorated in the livery of all official French planes - sober and elegant.’
The Sarkozys will also be getting a top-of-the-range Airbus A330-200 which is bigger than any other European leaders, but smaller than U.S. President Barack Obama’s Boeing 747-200, otherwise known as Air Force One.
The Airbus will be outfitted with desks for Mr Sarkozy and a secretary, a meeting room for 12 people and seating for 60 passengers as well as a bedroom and a private bathroom.