Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, is seeking permission from the Department of Transportation to add flights to and from the U.S.
In an application for exemption authority filed on Tuesday, the airline proposed launching connections from the cities of Almaty and Astana to New York. The document did not specify which New York airport Air Astana would serve.
The carrier is looking to start service in 2027, using a 303-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Air Astana’s representatives said the carrier’s maintenance, insurance, and safety practices meet U.S. standards. They also made the case that an air link between the two countries would serve the public interest.
There are currently no nonstop commercial flights between the U.S. and Kazakhstan.
Air Astana is headquartered in Almaty and serves destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Its fleet consists mostly of Airbus aircraft, though it has ordered up to 15 787s.
