A wave of aviation modernization is sweeping Central Asia, as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan join Kazakhstan in announcing major new deals with Boeing. The U.S. Commerce Department, under the Trump administration, confirmed on Thursday that the three nations’ airlines plan to purchase up to 37 new Boeing aircraft. The deals, heavily focused on the 787 Dreamliner, were announced at a diplomatic summit in Washington.
The largest order comes from Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, which plans to buy up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. However, its neighbors are also investing heavily. Tajikistan’s national carrier, Somon Air, intends to acquire up to 14 airplanes, a diverse order of four 787s and ten 737 MAX planes. Uzbekistan Airways is also set to expand its long-haul operations, committing to eight additional 787 Dreamliners.
These new aircraft will fuel ambitious growth plans across the region. For Air Astana, the 15 new 787-9s are a massive upgrade from its current wide-body fleet of three 767s. The airline, which currently connects Kazakhstan with Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, will use the new jets to expand its map. Boeing confirmed that the 787’s range is key to Air Astana’s plan to launch its first-ever routes to North America.
The announcement was made at the C5+1 Summit, a meeting in Washington celebrating a decade of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the five Central Asian republics. The Trump administration leveraged this event to showcase the fruits of its diplomatic engagement, positioning the Boeing deals as a win for American industry and a sign of strong partnerships in the region.
This 37-plane order joins hundreds of others Boeing has won this year, many of which have been announced as part of broader trade agreements championed by the Trump administration. While this deal strengthens Boeing’s position in Central Asia, the industry is also keenly aware of the ongoing, high-stakes negotiations for a potential 500-jet order from China.
