What Happened
Kazakh Flag Carrier Prepares For 2027 Debut Of Boeing Widebody
Air Astana’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has begun flight testing at Boeing’s facility in Charleston, South Carolina, ahead of its delivery to the Kazakh flag carrier. The aircraft, registered EI-KZA, completed its first test flight on October 1, 2026, and is the first of three 787-9s planned to enter service in 2027. These new aircraft will replace Air Astana’s Boeing 767-300ER fleet on long-haul routes, aiming to improve operational efficiency and support international growth. The development was first reported by AeroTime.