Air Astana is taking a giant leap in its fleet capabilities, moving from an aging fleet of three Boeing 767s to an order for 15 new 787-9 Dreamliners. This transformative purchase is the largest part of a 37-plane regional deal between Boeing and three Central Asian nations, announced by the Trump administration.
The 787s are strategic assets that will allow the Kazakh carrier to launch its first-ever services to North America, a long-held ambition. This move signals a new era of global expansion for the airline.
The Air Astana deal was announced alongside two other agreements: Tajikistan’s Somon Air is acquiring 14 planes (a mix of 787s and 737 MAXs), and Uzbekistan Airways is committing to eight additional 787s. All three carriers are embarking on a significant modernization program.
The Commerce Department unveiled the agreements at the C5+1 Summit in Washington. This 10th-anniversary diplomatic meeting was used as a platform to highlight the administration’s transactional approach to diplomacy, where U.S. business interests are a key component of foreign relations.
This 37-plane deal is the latest example of a recurring theme in the Trump administration, where Boeing orders feature prominently in trade announcements. It adds to hundreds of orders for Boeing this year, as the industry also watches for a potential 500-jet deal with China.