Boeing secures more Central Asia jet orders for North Charleston-made planes

 

The C5+1 Summit held at the White House Nov. 6 was good for sales for Boeing, with orders coming from three Central Asian countries.

In addition to the Air Astana order reported last week for the carrier from Kazakhstan, Boeing also secured orders from Somon Air of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Airways. In all, the three carriers will order up to 37 Boeing airplanes, 27 of which are part of the Dreamliner family based and assembled at Boeing’s North Charleston site.

Somon placed its largest-ever order, according to a news release, selecting up to 14 fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes.

The agreement reached at the C5+1 Summit, a summit with the United States and five Asian countries, was for Somon’s first-ever widebody order for up to four 787-9 Dreamliner jets to enable international network expansion and up to 10 737-8 single-aisle jets, to modernize its all-737 fleet, the release stated.

“We are pleased to announce our commitment to expand our fleet with Boeing’s state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes,” Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air, said in the release. “This significant investment not only marks our first widebody order but also reinforces our dedication to providing exceptional service and comfort to our passengers. With flexibility built into this commitment, Somon Air can adjust its fleet further based on market demand.”

Somon Air will launch new intercontinental routes from Dushanbe, Tajikistan with the 787-9, the release said. The 737‑8 will form the foundation of the carrier’s short and medium‑haul network. Together, these airplanes deliver a 20–25 % fuel-use improvement compared to the airplanes they replace, enabling lower per-seat and maintenance costs, according to Boeing.

When finalized and posted to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website, the order will support more than 11,000 jobs across the United States.

“Somon Air’s continued choice of Boeing as its strategic partner underscores their preference for Boeing jets to grow their route network,” Paul Righi, Boeing vice president of Sales and Marketing for Eurasia and India, said in the release. “The versatility of the 787-9 and 737-8, combined with their outstanding performance, range and operating economics, provide Somon Air with the essential tools needed to scale its operations effectively.”

Somon Air is the national airline of the Republic of Tajikistan, established in 2008. Based at Dushanbe International Airport, the airline operates regular passenger and charter flights to destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Its fleet consists entirely of modern Boeing 737 aircraft, the release stated.

Uzbekistan Airways announced the conversion of options into a firm order for eight 787 Dreamliners, bringing the flag carrier’s total order book to 22, according to the release.

Boeing says the ultra-efficient 787-9 airplanes will enable Uzbekistan Airways to expand its international network as part of the airline’s growth strategy. The signing ceremony was witnessed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov.

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