Boeing and Air Astana seal deal for up to 15 additional 787 Dreamliners

The Boeing Company and Air Astana JSC announced on Tuesday that the airline has finalized an order for up to 15 787‑9 Dreamliner aircraft. The purchase, the largest single‑aircraft transaction in Air Astana’s history, will bring the carrier’s 787‑9 fleet to 18 planes when three of the new jets, slated for delivery through leasing arrangements, are added. The agreement follows a November commitment by Air Astana to acquire additional 787‑9s, which had been reported as a future purchase.

The Air Astana Group operates a total of 60 aircraft with an average age of 5.2 years. The fleet consists of Boeing 767, Airbus A321, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A321neo LR, Airbus A320ceo, and Airbus A320neo series aircraft.

Resume Direct Flights to Baku

On Wednesday, Air Astana announced plans to resume direct flights from Almaty to Baku and increase the total number of flights to the capital of Azerbaijan.

Starting March 15, flights on the Almaty-Baku-Almaty route will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. From April, the frequency will increase to three times a week, and from May to four times a week: on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The new schedule provides daytime departure and arrival, which are more convenient for travel planning.

The airline is also increasing the frequency of regular flights on the Atyrau-Baku-Atyrau route three times a week: from March 18, flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; from April, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The flight time is 3 hours 35 minutes from Almaty and 1 hour 25 minutes from Atyrau.