Boeing Adds 37 Central Asian Jets to Order Book as Industry Watches China Talks

Boeing’s order book grew by 37 airplanes this week, following a new set of agreements with three Central Asian nations. The deal, announced by the Trump administration, will see Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, Tajikistan’s Somon Air, and Uzbekistan Airways make significant investments in new 787 Dreamliners and 737 MAX aircraft.
The agreements were strategically unveiled at the C5+1 Summit in Washington, a move by the administration to highlight its success in fostering U.S. business interests abroad. The Commerce Department championed the deal as a major diplomatic and commercial win.
The orders include 15 787-9s for Air Astana, a 14-plane mixed fleet for Somon Air, and eight additional 787s for Uzbekistan Airways. This influx of modern aircraft will allow the carriers to dramatically modernize their fleets and expand their global networks. For instance, Air Astana’s new 787s will enable it to launch its first-ever direct flights to North America.
While this 37-plane deal is a solid win for Boeing, it fits into a larger, more complex picture. This deal is part of a pattern of the Trump administration using diplomacy to secure Boeing orders.
However, the industry remains intensely focused on a much larger, potential blockbuster sale: 500 jets to China. That deal remains a key point in ongoing, and tense, trade negotiations, making this Central Asian deal a notable but smaller part of Boeing’s global strategy.