Air Astana's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has begun flight testing, bringing the Kazakh carrier closer to introducing a new long-haul fleet and launching nonstop services to North America. The aircraft, registered EI-KZA, completed its first test flight on 1 October 2026 at Boeing's Charleston manufacturing facility in South Carolina. In an announcement posted on LinkedIn, Air Astana shared images from its factory flight-testing programme as Boeing completes the necessary certification and delivery procedures.
The airline expects its first three 787-9s to enter commercial service during 2027. The aircraft will replace its ageing Boeing 767-300ER fleet and support plans to expand its international network. Air Astana had originally expected to receive its first Dreamliner in September 2026, but manufacturing delays have pushed the anticipated handover to December. Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Transport, Talgat Lastayev, confirmed the revised delivery schedule on 20 October. Chief executive Ibrahim Canliel has outlined a delivery schedule that would see the second Dreamliner arrive in January 2027 and the third in August 2027, with the aircraft initially operating about 20 regional sectors over two months to familiarise crews with the new type before entering longer-haul service.
Nonstop services to the US are a priority for the airline's long-haul expansion. Canliel said the carrier remains on course to introduce US flights during the second half of 2027, although the schedule depends on aircraft deliveries and operational approvals, and the airline is assessing polar routings and aircraft payload requirements to determine how it can operate the proposed services without intermediate fuel stops. In November 2025, the airline announced an agreement with Boeing for up to 15 additional 787-9s; the order was finalised in February 2026 and includes five firm aircraft, five options and five purchase rights. Combined with earlier commitments, Air Astana could ultimately operate a fleet of 18 Dreamliners, with deliveries under the additional order planned between 2032 and 2035 and a combined value, including engines, of approximately $7 billion based on manufacturer list prices. The 787-9 has a maximum published range of 8,300 nautical miles, compared with about 6,000 nautical miles for the 767-300ER.
