Christopher Luxon defends taking second plane overseas after criticising Hipkins for the same

The prime minister is defending the deployment of a second Defence Force plane for his Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) mission, having previously criticised the use of a back-up plane when in opposition.Christopher Luxon is in Palau for the annual PIF leaders meeting. Both of the RNZAF Boeing 757s have been deployed on the mission, with one staying in Cairns as a back-up.Luxon said it was a Defence Force decision to take two planes, with 88 people from New Zealand heading to PIF."We've taken 14 delegations up here, we've got a lot of people to take home on Sunday as well, and we're taking some home when I go out on Friday as well."Luxon said connectivity was a big challenge at PIF, and he had talked about the importance of connectivity at the realm leaders' meeting with Tokelau, Niue, and the Cook Islands last week."It makes the case for why we need a good, reliable Air Force plane."An RNZAF Boeing 757, pictured in 2015.RNZ / Alexander RobertsonAir Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott also spoke of the PIF meeting's remote location."This important meeting is being held in a comparatively remote location where air services and options are limited, and therefore a back-up aircraft has been positioned to assist if required for any reason."New Zealand is hosting next year's leaders meeting.Christopher Luxon.RNZ / Nick MonroIn 2023, the Defence Force sent a back-up plane for then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' trip to China.The back-up plane, which was sent in case the first broke down, was left in Manila. It attracted strong criticism from then-opposition leader Luxon, who said it "doesn't seem a good move" in a climate challenge.Luxon vowed not to use Defence Force planes to travel internationally if he became prime minister - a promise he quickly reneged on.The government is currently purchasing two new Airbus A321XLR planes on a lease-to-buy arrangement, to replace the ageing 757s.The current planes, which were purchased in 2003, are mostly used for transporting cargo around the Pacific. But they have a recent history of unreliability when it comes to prime ministerial travel.In 2024, Luxon had to fly commercially to Melbourne after the 757 broke down.He also left a business delegation in Papua New Guinea after a 757 broke down during a refuel stop en route to Japan.In 2016, Sir John Key was forced to cancel the first day of a trip to India after the 757 broke down in Townsville, while in 2019 Dame Jacinda Ardern flew commercially back from Melbourne after a breakdown.She also took a commercial flight back to New Zealand from the United States in 2022 when the 757 broke down in Washington DC.