Air Astana Faces Boeing 787 Problems

Air Astana is being forced to postpone the launch of flights to the United States due to Boeing 787 delays.

The delayed delivery of next-generation jets is becoming all too common for airlines worldwide, including Kazakhstan’s flag carrier.

Air Astana was previously expected to launch a nonstop service to the United States by the end of the 2025 calendar year, utilising its newest asset, the Boeing 787; that target will not be met.

According to fresh comments from the airline’s CEO, those plans must also be significantly pushed back, as the delivery is further delayed.

The company now expects the delivery of the aircraft to come in mid-2026, and then, after crew familiarisation, a formal launch to the United States.

The delay represents six months plus, which permits no further hiccups in the scheduling. Unfortunately, given the industry’s trajectory, it is also impossible to predict if the revised timeframes will be met.

Air Astana’s commitment to the 787 Dreamliner is by no means huge. However, it is still fundamental, as the 787’s capabilities are leveraged to meet emerging demand and evolve the business’ market share.

While much of the recent delay in acquiring its first Boeing 787 is focused on developing its highly anticipated U.S. connections, there’s also been an impact on Japan, where routes have been postponed.

Fleet Growth At Air Astana

The next five years are expected to be very important for Air Astana as it navigates emerging competition and strives to continue evolving its market share.

The company highlighted its intent to grow its fleet considerably over the coming years with the ambition to hit 80 planes by the end of 2028.

However, these ambitions equally come with their unknowns. As the global supply chain crisis persists, the ability to deliver next-generation aircraft on time appears to be more challenging each month.

While Air Astana can, therefore, outline its plans for fleet growth, this may not be achieved, not due to them specifically but more so due to factors outside their control.

33 aircraft are present for the Group’s mainline division, Air Astana, five of which are grounded for maintenance-related reasons. The mainline company relies on the A320 and A321 for its single-aisle operations.

Its largest aircraft is the Boeing 767, with three units present averaging 11.3 years. Therefore, when the Boeing 787 arrives, its presence will significantly improve the carrier’s overall reach.