At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Boeing announced its commitment to deliver the first B787-9 aircraft to Air Astana and the first B737-8 to Vietjet Qazaqstan within the second half of 2026, according to Kazinform. Boeing's vice president of sales and marketing, Paul Wrigley, stated that the initial B787-9 will arrive in July 2026, with the B737-8 scheduled for handover in September.
Air Astana plans to expand its fleet with up to eighteen B787-9 aircraft, including three units from Air Lease Corporation due between 2026 and 2027 and an order for fifteen additional aircraft scheduled for delivery from 2032 to 2035. These new jets will enable the airline to introduce non-stop service from Almaty to destinations such as New York JFK and Singapore Changi, overcoming current overflight restrictions via Russia.
Currently, Air Astana operates an extensive fleet comprising A320-200N, A321-200, A321-200NX(LR), and B767-300ER aircraft. Meanwhile, Vietjet Qazaqstan, rebranding from Qazaq Air, is expected to receive its first narrowbody aircraft in the third quarter of 2026. The airline plans to acquire up to twenty B737 MAX aircraft from VietJetAir between 2026 and 2031, ultimately transitioning to an all-narrowbody fleet after retiring its DHC-8-Q400 aircraft.
The move reflects ongoing fleet modernization and expansion efforts by both airlines amid the evolving aviation landscape in Central Asia and beyond.
