The U.S. Commerce Department is touting a new 37-plane agreement with three Central Asian nations as a major victory for American business. The deals, involving Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, were presented as a direct result of the Trump administration’s focus on fostering U.S. commercial interests abroad.
The agreements were unveiled at a high-profile diplomatic event, the C5+1 Summit in Washington. This 10th-anniversary meeting of U.S. and Central Asian leaders was used as a platform to showcase the administration’s transactional approach to foreign policy, where diplomatic ties are leveraged for economic wins.
The specifics of the deal highlight a significant investment from the region. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana plans to buy 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Tajikistan’s Somon Air intends to acquire a 14-plane mixed fleet of 787s and 737 MAXs. Uzbekistan Airways will add eight more 787s to its long-haul fleet.
For the airlines, these new planes represent a monumental step in modernization. Air Astana, for instance, will use its new 787s to replace its three aging 767s. This will also give it the capability to launch its first-ever direct flights to North America, a major strategic expansion.
This set of orders is the latest in a series of trade deals under the Trump administration that have prominently featured new U.S.-made Boeing planes. While this 37-plane deal is significant, the industry is also closely watching Boeing’s ongoing talks with China for a potential 500-jet sale.