Boeing has won big in Central Asia, securing commitments for up to 37 new airplanes from three of the region’s national carriers. The deal, announced by the Trump administration, includes orders from Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, Tajikistan’s Somon Air, and Uzbekistan Airways, and features both 787 Dreamliners and 737 MAX aircraft.
The orders were unveiled by the Commerce Department at the C5+1 Summit in Washington. This 10th-anniversary diplomatic meeting was used as a platform to showcase the administration’s focus on linking foreign policy with U.S. business interests.
The specifics of the deal highlight a major regional investment. Air Astana is set to purchase 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Somon Air intends to acquire a 14-plane mixed fleet of four 787s and ten 737 MAX models. Uzbekistan Airways is also expanding its long-haul fleet with eight additional 787s.
For the airlines, this is a monumental step in modernizing their fleets. Air Astana’s 15 new 787s will allow it to replace its small 767 fleet and, for the first time, launch ambitious new routes to North America.
This 37-plane deal is the latest example of a recurring theme in the Trump administration, where Boeing orders feature prominently in trade announcements. It adds to hundreds of orders for Boeing this year, as the industry also watches for a potential 500-jet deal with China.