Qatar gifts Turkish republic presidential plane

President Tayyip Erdogan has accepted a luxury plane from Qatar, saying it was a gift, not a purchase, and that it had been donated to the Turkish republic, not to him personally, at a time Turkey faces economic hardship.

The Turkish president defended his decision following some criticism, saying the emir of Qatar had donated the Boeing 747-8 plane, worth around $400-500 million, to the Turkish state.

In comments published on Monday, Erdogan said Turkey had shown interest in buying the plane.

"We were interested. When the Qatar emir was informed of this he gave it as a gift, saying 'I won't take money from Turkey. I will give this plane as a gift.'"

The Turkish president insisted that while the jet would be used for his trips, "the plane is not mine, it is the Turkish Republic's", in comments to reporters while returning from a visit to Azerbaijan.

Erdogan said that once the paintwork was finished he hoped to use the plane for travel.

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Gulf media have said the jumbo plane, which was part of Emir Tamim's personal fleet, is equipped for 76 passengers and has lounges and boardrooms.

Erdogan's remarks came after criticism last week by lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who claimed the president had bought the plane.

The plane is a fresh indication of the close relationship between Doha and Ankara that has seen each side help the other in times of trouble.

Doha promised to make a $15 billion direct investment in Turkey during the Washington-Ankara spat last month which saw the lira's value fall drastically against the dollar.

Ankara, one of the top exporters to the small Gulf state, also provided strong support to Doha after Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a blockade on Doha in June 2017.

Turkey is grappling with a sharp fall in its currency, double-digit inflation and an expected sharp economic downturn.