29 Mar 2010
Fokker-50, a short-haul turboprop
aircraft, has expanded the fleet of the national carrier of the Republic
of Kazakhstan. The aircraft acquired in an operating 3 year lease is
the sixth and the last aircraft of this type, which will operate on the
regional routes in Western Kazakhstan. The sixth Fokker-50 will be used
to perform the flights such as Aktau-Atyrau, Atyrau-Aktobe,
Aktobe-Atyrau, Atyrau-Uralsk-Atyrau and Atyrau-Aktau.
Peter Foster, President of Air Astana:
“A 6th Fokker-50 is our 22nd aircraft and will enable us to base an
aircraft permanently in Atyrau. This will facilitate connections around
the key cities of the Caspian and enable those of you based in the west
to better access international flights from Atyrau and Uralsk to
Amsterdam and Istanbul. This will be the last of the F50s, which,
although having proved a reliable workhorse since our early days on many
of the smaller and less developed routes will be phased out in favour
of new generation jet aircraft from mid-2011. We plan to acquire
Embraer-190, the aircrafts of a Brazilian manufacturer in operating
lease. In 2011, we expect the first two aircraft Embraer to be
delivered, opening up new opportunities for the developing of regional
flights.”
This acquisition is consistent with our
long-term program to expand the airline's fleet. We would like to remind
you that in 2008, Air Astana was the first airline company in the
history of civil aviation of Kazakhstan, which placed an order for the
production of six Airbus aircraft. Delivery of the aircraft will begin
in 2012.
Aircraft Fokker-50 is best suited on
regional routes because of its economical efficiency and ability to take
off and land at airports with poor technical infrastructure. Moreover,
passenger capacity of these aircraft meets current passenger traffic.
Also, the additional aircraft will allow flexibility when planning
flights and/or repairing other aircraft of this type.
Fokker-50 has 50 passenger seats in economy
class and can perform flights at a maximum distance of 2,800 km with a
cruising speed of 450 km/hour.
***
Air Astana is a full member of the Air Transport Association (IATA) and
the only airline in Kazakhstan certified to perform aircraft maintenance
on European standards EASA/Part 145
***
Air Astana - a joint venture of JSC “National Welfare Fund
“Samruk-Kazyna” and the English company BAE Systems, with a share of 51%
and 49% respectively.
To date, the fleet of Air Astana consists of the aircraft B767-300,
В757-200, A321, A320, А319, F50.