A landmark deal for new Boeing airplanes is set to open a new chapter in air travel, enabling the first-ever direct flights from Central Asia to North America. The U.S. Commerce Department, under the Trump administration, announced on Thursday that Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, Air Astana, plans to buy up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. This acquisition is the cornerstone of a larger set of deals totaling 37 aircraft for Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The new 787s are critical for Air Astana’s expansion strategy. The airline currently operates three older Boeing 767 wide-body jets for its long-haul routes to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The 787-9 Dreamliner, with its superior fuel efficiency and extended range, will not only replace these aircraft but also, as Boeing confirmed, give Air Astana the necessary capability to launch non-stop services to the North American continent.
The full announcement covers two other Central Asian nations. Tajikistan’s national carrier, Somon Air, is also making a significant investment, with plans to purchase up to 14 Boeing planes. This order is a mix of four 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes and ten 737 MAX airplanes for its regional network. Additionally, Uzbekistan Airways is expanding its long-haul capacity, committing to buying eight additional 787 planes.
These significant orders were formalized and announced at the C5+1 Summit in Washington. This event, which marked the 10th anniversary of the diplomatic meeting between the U.S. and the five Central Asian republics, was used by the Trump administration as a platform to highlight the tangible economic benefits of the partnership. The deals represent a major victory for American manufacturing and a strengthening of ties with the region.
This approach of integrating major commercial sales into diplomatic events is a consistent theme for the Trump administration. Orders for U.S.-made Boeing planes have frequently been part of trade deals with foreign governments. While this 37-plane agreement is a significant win, it is one of many for Boeing this year. The company is also in talks for a potentially massive 500-jet order with China, a deal that would be a major breakthrough in the world’s second-largest aviation market.