Boeing has asserted its dominance in the Central Asian market, with three of the region’s national carriers selecting its aircraft for a major fleet modernization. The U.S. Commerce Department, under the Trump administration, announced on Thursday that Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan plan to purchase up to 37 new Boeing jets. The deals, announced in Washington, are heavily focused on the 787 Dreamliner.
The order details reveal a significant investment in Boeing’s long-haul technology. Air Astana of Kazakhstan is the lead buyer, with plans to buy up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Tajikistan’s Somon Air is also investing in a mixed fleet, with an intended purchase of 14 aircraft (four 787s and ten 737 MAXs). Uzbekistan Airways will further expand its 787 fleet with an order for eight additional planes.
This infusion of new jets is aimed at modernization and significant network growth. Air Astana’s 15 Dreamliners will replace its three current Boeing 767s, which handle routes to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The new 787s are the key to unlocking new, more distant markets. Boeing confirmed that the aircraft’s range will enable Air Astana to launch its first-ever direct flight operations to North America.
The setting for the announcement, the 10th-anniversary C5+1 Summit, was highly symbolic. It allowed the Trump administration to project American influence in Central Asia, a region of growing geopolitical importance. By tying the diplomatic meeting to a major commercial sale, the administration reinforced its message that U.S. foreign policy is intrinsically linked to tangible economic outcomes for American companies.
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.