Kazakhstan’s national carrier, Air Astana, announced that its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is undergoing flight testing in South Carolina. The aircraft, registered EI-KZA, is scheduled to join the fleet later this year.
Expected Delivery Timeline
The airline had expected to receive its first Boeing 787-9 in September, but supply-chain constraints pushed the delivery to December 2026. The aircraft is being acquired under a long-term agreement with Air Lease Corporation. Air Astana plans to gradually replace their older Boeing 767 fleet with the three Boeing 787-9 by 2027.
Ibrahim Canliel, chief executive officer of Air Astana, said he expects the second aircraft in January of 2027, followed by the third in August of 2027. He said:
“We will be using the Dreamliners at low utilisation for about two months, doing a lot of short-sector flying, so that they can get certified. The 767s will start going out, and we are on track to launch the flights to the U.S. in the second half of 2027.”
He added that the U.S. launch depends on Boeing’s delivery schedule and on regulatory approvals from both countries.
The first U.S. destination will be New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), served twice a week. Air Astana does not fly through Russian airspace, so it plans to operate the route with a reduced payload for now.
More 787s on the Way
Air Astana confirmed that it had finalised 15 additional 787-9 commitments in February 2026 which included five firm orders and a series of options and purchase rights.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 36 aircraft with an average age of 7.6 years, including three Boeing 767s and 33 Airbus A320-family aircraft, according to ch-aviation data. Its network spans Europe, Central Asia, India, China and Southeast Asia.
Would you consider a trip to Kazakhstan once Air Astana’s new long‑haul fleet and U.S. routes are up and running? Let us know in the comments.
