The U.S. Commerce Department, on behalf of the Trump administration, announced a significant new set of agreements for Boeing on Thursday, totaling up to 37 airplanes for airlines in Central Asia. The deals with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan were unveiled at the C5+1 Summit in Washington, a high-level diplomatic meeting. The sales, primarily for the 787 Dreamliner, underscore a major fleet modernization push in the region.
The details of the sales are as follows: Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, Air Astana, is planning the largest acquisition with an intent to buy up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Tajikistan’s national carrier, Somon Air, is close behind with a 14-plane deal, including four 787s and ten 737 MAX aircraft. Uzbekistan Airways is also expanding, committing to eight additional 787s.
This new fleet will fuel significant expansion. 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 C5+1 Summit, marking its 10th anniversary, provided a prestigious and strategic backdrop for the announcement. The Trump administration has consistently used such diplomatic gatherings to advance U.S. economic interests. By securing these orders, the administration can point to a tangible outcome of its engagement with the five Central Asian republics.
This event is part of a broader pattern where orders for U.S.-made Boeing planes have been central to trade deals and negotiations with foreign governments under President Trump. Boeing has won hundreds of orders this year through such agreements. While the 37-plane deal is a solid win, the company is also in talks for a potentially massive 500-jet order with China.
US Commerce Dept. Announces 37-Plane Boeing Sale to Central Asia
