Central Asian airlines are making a major push into the long-haul market, with three national carriers announcing deals for up to 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. This is the bulk of a 37-plane package unveiled by the Trump administration on Thursday. The Commerce Department confirmed the sales to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which were announced at a diplomatic summit in Washington.
The largest order comes from Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, which plans to buy up to 15 of the 787-9 Dreamliner model. Uzbekistan Airways is also committing heavily to the 787, ordering eight additional planes. Tajikistan’s Somon Air is acquiring four 787s, which will be part of a larger 14-plane deal that also includes ten 737 MAX aircraft.
This focus on the 787 is strategic. Air Astana will use its new Dreamliners to replace its three aging 767s and, crucially, to launch new intercontinental routes. Boeing highlighted that the 787’s range and efficiency are what will “enable expansion into North America” for the Kazakh carrier. This opens up a new, lucrative market for the airline.
The 10th-anniversary C5+1 Summit, a meeting of U.S. and Central Asian leaders, was the chosen venue for this announcement. The Trump administration used the platform to demonstrate the economic benefits of its diplomatic engagement with the region, highlighting the sales as a victory for American manufacturing and a strengthening of strategic partnerships.
This focus on U.S.-made goods, especially Boeing jets, in trade negotiations has been a hallmark of the Trump administration. These 37 orders join hundreds of others announced this year in similar contexts. While a significant deal, it is dwarfed by the potential 500-jet sale to China that Boeing is reportedly negotiating, a deal that remains a key focus for the industry.
