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Plans by Air Astana to launch direct flights between Kazakhstan and the United States have been delayed due to setbacks in Boeing 787 aircraft deliveries. The airline had originally aimed to begin these services in 2025, but now expects its first Boeing 787-9 to arrive no earlier than mid-2026.
At the company’s Capital Markets Day at the London Stock Exchange on September 15, 2025, Chief Executive Officer Peter Foster addressed the challenges facing the proposed route. Foster explained that a nonstop flight from Kazakhstan to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) would require overflying Russian airspace, which Air Astana has avoided since March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Even with the 787's range, we can't operate a direct flight from Kazakhstan to New York JFK without overflying Russia. So, if we serve the US, it would have to be through a midpoint,” Foster said.
Foster indicated that if Air Astana proceeds with US flights, they may need to include a stopover in Europe and secure fifth-freedom rights at a European airport. He noted this arrangement would require significant consideration: “a huge amount of reflection” before moving forward.
