Foreign Secretary David Cameron rented a luxurious Embraer Lineage 1000 plane for his five-day business trip to Central Asia. The plane, estimated to cost 42 million pounds, was rented by the Union Aviation company and offered amenities such as a separate relaxation area and a sommelier for selecting wines suitable for the flight.
The decision to rent the expensive plane was met with criticism from British newspapers such as The Guardian and The Mirror. Labour MP Emily Thornberry raised concerns about the high cost of the plane, questioning the justification for spending taxpayers’ money on luxury travel.
Despite the criticism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the decision, stating that it was made in the most efficient way possible to save time. The purpose of Cameron’s trip was to promote opportunities for British companies in the region and announce funding of 50 million pounds to support regional governments’ sovereignty and independence.
The use of an expensive plane sparked controversy in recent years when Foreign Secretary David Cameron traveled to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia to strengthen ties and promote British interests in the region.
