Trump Era Boosts Central Asia with $10B Boeing Jet Deals

In a significant move for both U.S. aviation and Central Asian air travel, the Trump administration announced new deals on Thursday to sell up to 37 Boeing jets to airlines in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The announcements coincided with the 10th anniversary of the C5+1 Summit, a diplomatic forum connecting the United States with five Central Asian nations.

Kazakhstan’s national carrier, Air Astana, plans to acquire up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of a fleet modernization drive. Currently operating three Boeing 767s, the airline aims to expand routes into North America and enhance its international network across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Tajikistan’s Somon Air is placing its first-ever widebody order with plans to purchase 14 Boeing planes, including four 787-9s and ten 737 MAX jets. The airline, which operates six 737 NG aircraft serving 25 destinations, will leverage the new widebodies to launch long-haul intercontinental routes from Dushanbe.

Uzbekistan Airways has converted options into a firm order for eight 787 Dreamliners, bringing its total widebody orders to 22. The moves collectively represent one of the largest aviation deals in Central Asia in recent years and demonstrate the region’s growing connectivity ambitions.

These agreements highlight Boeing’s continued success in securing international deals amid U.S. trade strategies, adding to hundreds of aircraft orders confirmed globally this year. While discussions with China over potentially 500 aircraft remain pending, these Central Asian contracts underscore a strategic pivot in Boeing’s global sales efforts.

Officials and analysts note that these orders could reshape regional air travel by increasing passenger capacity, opening new long-haul routes, and modernizing aging fleets. For Central Asian carriers, it signals a bold step toward more competitive and globally connected aviation markets.