Summary
- Kazakhstan plans direct US flights with Boeing Dreamliners by 2025.
- Air Astana aims for net zero emissions by 2050.
- Unclear which cities flights will operate from and to in both countries.
Next year the United States may have direct flights to Central Asia’s largest country. According to a press release by the Kazakhstan government, Kazakhstan is planning to establish direct flights with the United States in 2025 after Kazakh Airlines receives its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Air Astana is currently modernizing its fleet with Airbus A320neos, A321neos, A21LR, and Boeing Dreamliners. Air Astana is also taking steps to have net zero emissions by 2050.
Air Astana to fly direct to US with Dreamliners
A Kazakh delegation led by the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, recently met with Boeing representatives. The Kazakh delegation was introduced to Boeing’s airliner assembling process during the visit. Kazakhstan is currently ordering Boeing Dreamliners and plans to use these to offer direct flights to the United States.
“Issues regarding the supply of aircraft for Kazakh airlines [likely Air Astana] were discussed, and it was confirmed that the delivery of the first Dreamliner for direct flights from Kazakhstan to the United States is planned for the end of 2025. This event is designed to strengthen Kazakhstan’s air fleet and increase the level of air transportation in the country.” – Kazakhstan press release
It is unclear which cities in Kazakhstan these flights would operate from—although it is likely to be Almaty or Astana. It is even more unclear which cities the flight would operate to in the United States. The Kazakh statement was written in Russian (one of the two official languages of Kazakhstan) and stated the airline is “казахстанских авиакомпаний” translating to “Kazakh airlines.” This is likely a reference to Air Astana – the Kazakh flag carrier based in Almaty. Air Astana has 3 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order.

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Kazakhstan – a massive an overlooked country
Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country by land area and has a population of around 20 million people. It is by far the largest country in Central Asia by size and one of the world’s most overlooked countries. The country boasts a rich history and many natural wonders (including mountains rising over 7,000 meters or 23,000 feet—even though most of the country is steppe). Kazakhs hail from a nomadic steppe culture not dissimilar to Mongolia.
Photo: Jonathan Hendry | Simple Flying
Kazakhstan’s two main airports are the international airports serving the northern capital city of Astana and the southern city of Almaty (the largest city and former capital). Being a post-Soviet Central Asian country, Kazakhstan is well connected to Russia and many other destinations in the former USSR. Further abroad, Kazakhstan has connections with Europe, East and Southeast Asia, and some other destinations like Istanbul and Tel Aviv. There are currently no direct flights to the United States or anywhere in the Americas.