Air Astana’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has entered factory flight testing in Charleston, South Carolina, as Boeing completes checks and certification procedures ahead of delivery. The aircraft, registered EI-KZA, made its first test flight on 1 October. It is the first of three 787-9s Air Astana expects to introduce into passenger service in 2027 as part of its long-haul fleet renewal.
The testing programme is being conducted at Boeing’s Charleston production facility before the aircraft is handed over to the Kazakhstan-based carrier. No delivery date has been confirmed, and Air Astana has not specified the aircraft’s initial commercial routes.
The three Dreamliners will gradually replace the airline’s Boeing 767-300ER aircraft on long-haul operations. Their introduction will expand and modernise Air Astana’s widebody fleet, although the timing of individual aircraft deliveries and the start of passenger flights remains undisclosed.