Air Astana has confirmed the delivery timeline for its first widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners — despite industry-wide delays, the airline will take delivery of its first aircraft in December 2026, CEO Ibrahim Canliel said.
The new aircraft will be equipped with Wi-Fi and modern seating, with each capable of carrying up to 20 tonnes of cargo. The 787s will allow the airline to open longer-range routes, including direct flights from Kazakhstan to New York and Tokyo.
Kazakhstan's government previously instructed the airline to launch direct flights to the United States by the end of 2026 — a December delivery meets that deadline, though it leaves a narrow window for the route to actually launch before year-end.
Air Astana plans to grow its fleet from 63 to 86 aircraft by 2030.