Air Astana (KC, Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev) will lease three B787-9s from Air Lease Corporation with deliveries due between early 2025 and the first half of 2026.

"The B787-9 is an important aircraft to Air Astana's fleet modernization as we expand our routes and focus on passenger experience," President and Chief Executive Peter Foster said.

The three aircraft will be delivered from ALC's existing Boeing order book, which comprises 27 already delivered B787-9s and a further six on order, according to the ch-aviation fleets ownership.

The airline currently has three B787-8s on a direct order from Boeing, based on an agreement from early 2012. The airline has repeatedly deferred the -8s' deliveries but confirmed to ch-aviation that the new ALC lease was independent of the Boeing deal. The carrier's current-generation widebody fleet comprises three B767-300ERs, which are the world's youngest units of the type at just 8.9 years of age on average.

While the carrier did not discuss its plans for the B787-9s, it said earlier that it would use them, among others, to launch its maiden services to the United States.