1
August 2011
Air
Astana, the national flag carrier of Kazakhstan, and Embraer have signed
a contract for the sale of two EMBRAER 190 jets. The deal also
includes options for a further two aircraft. The total value of the contract,
at list price, is US$ 85.6 million, based on January 2011 economic conditions,
and could reach US$ 171.2 million if all options are exercised. Deliveries are scheduled
to begin in the first semester 2012.
Air Astana is already operating two EMRBAER 190 jets
under a lease agreement with Jetscape, Inc and will receive two additional
aircraft on lease from Air Lease Corp in 2011/2012. The
latest two aircraft on order will bring Air Astana’s fleet up to six
Embraer 190 jets in 2012.
Purchase finance for all aircraft on
order has been arranged independently by Air Astana, without calling upon
government gurantees. The purchase
of its own aircraft is a part of Air Astana’s strategic development plan, which
foresees an increase in the fleet to 43 aircraft by 2022.
“Air Astana is pursuing
its strategy of renewal of its fleet with aircraft whose seating capacity will
efficiently complement our narrow body fleet without compromising passenger
comfort,” said
Peter Foster,
President of Air Astana. “EMBRAER 190s’ range, efficiency and size are ideal to increase services on some highly
frequented routes and to start new routes in Central Asia especially towards
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan as well as Southern Russia and Georgia,”
“It’s very gratifying for
us to see Air Astana continue to build its future fleet of E-Jets just one month after it
started its EMBRAER 190 operations,” said Paulo César de Souza
e Silva, Embraer President, Commercial
Aviation. “The Central
Asia markethas great growth potential andit’s a privilege to see Air Astana’s confidence in our
E-Jets family as the aircraft of choice to develop their domestic
and regional network.”
Air Astana’s new EMBRAER 190 jets will also join the
Embraer’s Pool Flight Hour Program,
which gives Air Astana quick access to spare parts from Embraer’s distribution
and service centres, eliminating the need for the airline to invest in a large
inventory of replacement items.