‘I flew on a airplane with Keir Starmer and it was boujier than you would possibly suppose’

What’s it like to fly Starm-air?

Rishi Sunak was infamous for his love of luxury air travel – accepting private helicopter and jet flights from a string of billionaire donors – often for journeys he could basically have done on foot. Well maybe not on foot, but you know what I mean.

Labour yesterday announced they were scrapping the contract for a luxury helicopter used by Mr Sunak and senior ministers for speedy domestic jaunts. But even for an eco-conscious PM, some flights are unavoidable – but how does Keir Starmer take to the skies?

Today I’m flying with the PM to Berlin. It’s his first one-to-one visit to a foreign leader – though he’s met Chancellor Olaf Scholz four times already since becoming PM.

As is often the case, particularly since Labour took over, we’re asked to arrive early and board early, waiting on the tarmac at Stansted’s sparkling private jet centre. And when I say sparkling, I mean it – every fabric has sequins, every ostentatious statue has mirrorball cladding. Even the cooler dispenses fizzy water.

The plane itself is a Boeing 737-700 – most recently used as the England squad’s air transport to Euro 2024. Mr Starmer has used the plane before during the campaign – and delights in sitting in the “Southgate seat”. Today’s plane is a loaner. We’re told the usual Prime Ministerial jet – sporting union flag livery – is in for maintenance.

Even on a relatively short flight, a meal is served. The PM is, of course, served first – but that may be more to do with his vegetarianism than his job title.

I enjoy a fillet of beef with roast veg and mashed potato – a little overcooked for my taste, but still delicious considering the altitude. A delightfully crisp chicken caesar salad is served on the side, with a sinful chocolate tart with hazelnut syrup for dessert. It’s washed down with a perfectly adequate glass of Malbec – served in an actual glass rather than a plastic cup. The cutlery is stainless steel.

I’m treated to an exceptionally spicy bloody mary as we descend to Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport, to be whisked away in a blue-flashing motorcade to a bar for Bier mit Keir – where the PM and the travelling pack took a few minutes’ to relax with some cold German lager, some salty pretzels and unreportable chats.

What Starmer’s transport to Germany is not is a “private jet”. Imagine one of those medium-size planes you might take for a short-haul commercial flight to Europe, but with wide, cream and black leather business class seats all the way down. There are plush grey carpets throughout, and not a speck of biscuit crumb to be seen.

And many of the niceties that were dropped from commercial flights in the covid era – boiled sweets for takeoff and landing, hot towels before meal service – live on in Mr Starmer’s mile-high executive travel service.

But there’s no hot tub, no TVs – not even in the back of your seat. No sofas or boardroom, nor a private area for the PM. Not even power sockets – though the very attentive flight crew will sort you out with a battery in a pinch.

And more or less every one of the 62 seats is filled with a journalist or official – meaning it’s almost, but not quite, as economical as a commercial flight.

Starm-Air is certainly very, very comfortable – but nothing Beyonce would be seen dead on.