It’s an exhilarating time for aviation in Central Asia, as we’ve recently witnessed aircraft order announcements from Air Astana, Somon Air, and Uzbekistan Airways.
While I initially covered Air Astana’s significant new aircraft order a few months back, I’d like to share an update — the order has now been confirmed, allowing us to have an idea of how many orders are actually guaranteed, and when the new planes will arrive… and patience is required.
Air Astana has placed an order for as many as 18 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Air Astana serves as the national airline of Kazakhstan, boasting a fleet of nearly 35 planes. This includes Airbus A320 family aircraft alongside Boeing 767s. It’s a fascinating fleet, as the airline operates modern A321neos and A321LRs, as well as the youngest passenger 767s globally.
In November 2025, Air Astana revealed intentions to acquire as many as 15 more Boeing 787-9s, aimed at expanding and modernizing its fleet (in addition to the three that have already been ordered — more details on that below). The deal was signed during the C5+1 Summit, and as of February 2026, the order has been confirmed.
Nevertheless, the “up to 15” figure isn’t quite as thrilling as it may seem. In truth, this encompasses five firm orders, five options, and five purchase rights. Thus, realistically, only five of those planes are a somewhat certain prospect. For what it’s worth, those aircraft are projected to be delivered between 2032 and 2035, meaning we’ll need to exercise considerable patience.
For context, this latest order is in addition to Air Astana’s earlier plans for three Boeing 787-9s through lessors, expected to be delivered between late 2026 and 2028. This results in the airline having firm plans for up to eight Dreamliners, plus options for as many as 10 more.
Air Astana plans to configure its 787s with 303 seats and aims to operate the aircraft to destinations across Asia and Europe, as well as North America, as part of a global expansion.
Here’s how Air Astana CEO Peter Foster describes this:
“Air Astana is strategically focused on enhancing its service capabilities from Central Asia / Caucasus to Asia, Europe, and beyond over the next decade, with the arrival of the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner next year marking the beginning of this exciting developmental phase. With its passenger-friendly cabin, fuel efficiency, and flexibility in range, the fleet of up to 18 Boeing 787-9 aircraft is poised to achieve remarkable success with the airline and its discerning travelers.”
Air Astana now has as many as 18 Boeing 787s on order.
Air Astana operates a stellar, dependable service.
As I’ve mentioned many times, Central Asia is a captivating region of the world, especially in terms of aviation. I would contend that Air Astana is by far the best-managed carrier in the region. The airline features a modern fleet, impressive operational reliability, a sound onboard product, and maintains a reasonably solid financial standing.
I’ve enjoyed my past flights with Air Astana and have been eager to travel on the carrier’s new A321LRs, although I’ve been awaiting the airline’s initial batch of Dreamliners before doing so. The first three 787s are set to replace the 767s, and the additional 787s are likely to be utilized for incremental growth, although that’s still over six years away.
I wish Air Astana would forge more partnerships with other airlines, whether by joining an alliance or at least enhancing loyalty collaborations. It seems logical that Air Astana would be a great match for one of the global alliances, given the absence of a Central Asian carrier in any. Essentially, I’m just hoping to find a means to redeem miles for the carrier’s business class, instead of paying cash… is that too much to wish for? 😉
Air Astana boasts a notably modern fleet at this stage.
Conclusion
Air Astana is embarking on a long-haul expansion, represented by an order for up to 15 additional Boeing 787-9s. In actuality, that transaction includes only five firm additional orders, with those planes anticipated between 2032 and 2035.
More imminently, the airline is acquiring three Dreamliners through a leasing company, with expected deliveries between late 2026 and 2028.
It’s quite exciting to observe the extent of growth in aviation in Central Asia right now, and I look forward to seeing how this unfolds.
What are your thoughts on Air Astana’s Dreamliner order?