RANGERS are heading to Seville for the Europa League final on a “Brexit jet” which has been used by UK Government ministers and the royal family.
The Titan Airways plane, which until recently was decorated in the colours of the Union flag and was leased by the UK Government, departed from Glasgow on Monday afternoon.
The aircraft was given the paint job, described by the UK Government as “Global Britain livery”, when it was leased by Boris Johnson’s administration last year. According to reports, it has since been repainted black and handed back to Titan Airways.
Rangers secured the jet for the trip, with the date of the club's formation used in the ZT1872 flight tag.
Announcing the lease for the Titan plane in March 2021, No 10 insisted it offered “value for money”, while declining to reveal the cost of the deal or the paintwork. The Cabinet Office later revealed it costs £15m per year to lease the aircraft.
It has been used by Johnson, Cabinet ministers and members of the royal family for short or medium range trips.
While that aircraft has been repainted black, another Airbus A321 plane which is being used for the PM's trip to Northern Ireland this week has been redesigned in red, white and blue colours.
In 2020, the UK Government was criticised for spending £900,000 on repainting the original "Brexit jet", the RAF Voyager, in the colours of the Union flag.
Announcing the second Brexit jet last year, a government spokesperson told the Independent: “The aircraft with its Global Britain livery will promote a strong image of the role the UK plays on the international stage when it is used by the prime minister, government ministers and senior members of the royal household.”
SNP MP Stewart Hosie commented: “It is staggering that Boris Johnson is wasting more public money on yet another Tory red, white and blue vanity project.”
Johnson used the Titan plane in June 2021 to fly to Newquay for the G7 summit. Dominic Raab also used the plane to jet off to the Middle East.
Liz Truss came under fire in January after chartering the aircraft for a 22,000-mile trip to Australia at an estimated cost of £500,000.
The plane was used to transport Truss from London to Sydney on January 18, and back again five days later.
The Foreign Secretary defended her use of the jet, telling the BBC: "That is why we have a government plane to enable government ministers to conduct government business."
The aircraft was also reportedly used by royals William and Kate during their visit to Scotland last week.
The Titan plane, registered G-XATW, was scheduled to leave Glasgow Aiport at 2.30pm and arrive in Seville at 6.30pm.
Rangers will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final in Seville on Wednesday.
As many as 100,000 Gers supporters are expected to make the trip.
