‘Airbus Albo’ REFUSES to board a commercial aircraft for the Queen’s burial despite a request from Buck Palace


Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to hitch a commercial flight to London for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral despite being asked to do so by the UK government.

Heads of states and their partners were asked to travel on commercial flights to England for the funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19 – but the man who was dubbed ‘Airbus Albo’ for his repeated overseas trips at the start of his term, is not falling into line.

Instead, Mr Albanese intends to take the Royal Australian Air Force’s VIP jet for the flight to the UK, though he will be transported by bus once he gets there.

‘They’re longstanding plans for myself and the Governor-General (David Hurley) to travel to London and we’ll be doing so on Thursday night,’ Mr Albanese told the ABC.

Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese board a Royal Australian Air Force plane. Despite the UK government’s request, Mr. Albanese won’t be taking a commercial airplane to Queen Elizabeth’s burial.

Australian prime ministers, according to his deputy Richard Marles, do not fly commercially due to security reasons.

That needs to be the most important factor in this situation. And I should also stress out that the public’s security is a concern, not only the prime minister’s,’ Mr. Marles said in an interview with ABC’s Radio National.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took a commercial trip to Australia earlier this year.

Later this month, she also intends to fly with Air New Zealand, the country’s flag airline, to the UN General Assembly.

Foreign heads of state and their wives were requested to use commercial planes, according to documents Politico was able to get, and using helicopters to move about had been outlawed.

According to the schedule, the visiting global leaders will be bused around London to the burial.

Leaders across the globe have not taken well to this, with one remarking, “Can you see Joe Biden on the bus?”

Only one senior delegate from each nation and their spouse will be permitted to attend the burial since Westminster Abbey will be so crowded, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office’s formal etiquette statement.

Anthony Albanese will not be getting a commercial flight to London for the Queen's funeral, despite being asked to do so by the UK government. Pictured are Qantas planes

Anthony Albanese will not be getting a commercial flight to London for the Queen's funeral, despite being asked to do so by the UK government. Pictured are Qantas planes

Anthony Albanese will not be getting a commercial flight to London for the Queen’s funeral, despite being asked to do so by the UK government. Pictured are Qantas planes

The department said it ‘regrets that, because of limited space at the state funeral service and associated events, no other members of the principal guest’s family, staff or entourage may be admitted’.

Mr Albanese said ‘there will be events right around’ Australia to honour the Queen.

‘This is why we’ve declared it a National Day of Mourning. I’m sure that Australians will want to show their respect in their own way,’ he said on Monday.

‘But what is clear about Queen Elizabeth is she was much loved by people across the political spectrum, across our vast island continent, she touched people.

‘She visited on her first visit in 1954 almost 60 towns. She visited the big cities but she went to the smallest of towns and remote communities.’

The Prime Minister said Queen Elizabeth ‘visited Australia 16 times’ and there were 16 Australian Prime Ministers and 16 Governors-General during her reign.

‘It’s a remarkable life of service we commemorate and we give gratitude for,’ he said.


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