Travellers to New York Face Wait as Astana Nonstop Hinges on U.S. Review

Direct flights between Astana and New York could begin in 2027, Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev said, with the launch depending on a United States aviation safety assessment and the arrival of Air Astana's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Key facts

• Target launch: 2027, for direct Astana–New York service
• U.S. safety report: final official report expected in November
• U.S. flight authorization: Kazakhstan aims to secure it by the end of this year
• Aircraft: a Dreamliner capable of the route is expected in December
• First Dreamliner testing: began 1 October in Charleston, South Carolina

What needs to happen first?

A team of auditors from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) visited Kazakhstan several weeks before 24 October and gave a positive preliminary assessment of the country's civil aviation system and its compliance with international standards. The final official report is expected in November.

Lastayev said Kazakhstan aims to obtain authorization to operate flights to the U.S. by the end of this year. He added that launching the route would also depend on aircraft readiness and the completion of required flight hours for crews and technical staff.

When could flights start?

A Dreamliner capable of operating these flights is expected in December. Before it enters service, crews and technicians need to complete a certain number of flight hours. Lastayev said that, provided these conditions are met, officials expect to launch a direct flight next year.

Air Astana's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as EI-KZA, began factory flight testing in Charleston, South Carolina, on 1 October. Boeing is conducting the necessary certification procedures before delivering the aircraft, according to the airline's press service.

The first three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are expected to enter service with Air Astana in 2027. The aircraft will gradually replace the airline's Boeing 767-300ER planes and create opportunities to expand its international route network.

What other routes has Air Astana added?

Air Astana Group has been expanding its international network from Astana. In 2026, the group launched eight new scheduled and charter destinations from the capital: Guangzhou, Bangkok, Larnaca, Dalaman, Batumi, Issyk-Kul, Salalah and Yining. Seven more destinations were introduced in 2025: Sanya, Jeddah, Medina, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Alanya and Kutaisi.

The group's network from Astana now covers 32 destinations, including announced routes. Weekly flights on existing international routes from Astana are rising from 99 to 116, including services to Beijing, Seoul, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Dubai. Compared with 2025, capacity on the Astana–Beijing route has risen by 55%, while capacity on routes to Seoul and Istanbul has increased by 20%.

The number of aircraft based in Astana rose from 13 in 2024 to 16 in summer 2026 and is expected to reach 22 in 2027.

What this means for travellers

Travellers considering a direct trip between Kazakhstan and the United States should watch for the FAA's final report in November and for news of U.S. flight authorization, which Kazakhstan aims to secure by the end of this year. No tickets, schedules or fares for the Astana–New York route have been announced.

The next milestones are the FAA's final report in November, the expected arrival of the first route-capable Dreamliner in December, and the planned entry of the first three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners into service in 2027.