Dreamliner delivery delay pushes back launch of direct Kazakhstan-U.S. flightsDelivery of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Air Astana is now expected in December 2026 instead of September as previously planned, pushing back the launch of direct flights to the United States, Kazakh Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev said."Air Astana told us the first Dreamliner would be delivered in September this year, but because of production delays at the manufacturer, we now expect the first delivery in December, and the rest of the process shifts accordingly. But it is steadily moving forward. I am sure the flight will be eventually launched," Lastayev told reporters on the sidelines of ICAO Security Week 2026 on Tuesday.He said Kazakhstan hopes to obtain U.S. permission to operate flights by the end of 2026 and expects direct service to launch in 2027.New York is the priority U.S. destination, with Astana as the departure point in Kazakhstan, Lastayev added.In May 2026, Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel said the airline aimed to begin flights to the United States in 2027 and was counting on the Kazakh government's support in resolving a number of issues related to sanctions restrictions, the use of Russian airspace, Boeing technical support and long-term state financing of the route.According to the company's calculations at the time, with two flights a week, the gap between costs and revenues could amount to $15 million a year for the Almaty route and $24 million for the Astana route.The company had planned to begin flights to the United States in 2025, after deliveries of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Kazakh aviation authorities have repeatedly said they intend to establish direct air links with the United States.Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev said earlier that Kazakhstan plans to launch direct flights to the United States in the second quarter of 2027. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX