Boeing has secured a set of new orders from Central Asia, with the Trump administration announcing deals for up to 37 airplanes. The Commerce Department detailed the breakdown on Thursday: 15 for Kazakhstan, 14 for Tajikistan, and 8 for Uzbekistan. The sales, announced at the C5+1 Summit in Washington, are focused on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX models.
The largest order comes from Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, Air Astana, which plans to buy up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to grow and modernize its fleet. Tajikistan’s national carrier, Somon Air, is close behind with a 14-plane deal, including four 787s and ten 737 MAX planes. Uzbekistan Airways is also expanding, committing to eight additional 787s.
These new planes 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 Mideast, 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 diplomatic platform proved to be a powerful tool for the Trump administration to advance its trade agenda. By announcing the orders at the 10th-anniversary summit, the administration successfully blended strategic engagement with a tangible victory for American manufacturing. This move reinforces the U.S. commitment to the region while simultaneously supporting a key American exporter.
This 37-plane deal is just the latest in a series of announcements this year where Boeing orders have been heavily featured in trade deals with foreign governments. This practice has become a hallmark of the Trump administration’s economic diplomacy. While this is a solid success, the administration and Boeing are also in talks for a massive 500-jet sale to China.