29 March 2011
Karaganda Airport Wins Air Astana’s Best Airport Partner Award for 2010
Air
Astana has selected Karaganda Airport for the “Best Airport Partner”
award for 2010, with Peter Foster, President of Air Astana presenting
the award to Daulet Khamzin, Chairman of board of directors of
Karaganda’s Sary-Arka Airport at a ceremony in Almaty.
The
competition for the “Best Airport Partner” was launched by Air Astana
last year, with the intention of promoting the highest quality of
airport service development across the country. National airports
offering advanced infrastructure, new generation equipment and high
standards of service and safety are eligible to compete in this newly
established annual competition.
Karaganda’s Sary-Arka airport received the “Best Airport Partner” award on the basis of the following criteria.
Firstly,
Karaganda’s Sary-Arka airport is equipped with the most advanced
equipment, which allows it to accept all types of aircrafts without
restrictions. Secondly, the airport has invested in the latest
generation of aircraft de-icing and runway clearing equipment, as well
as training all personnel to the highest international standards. This
step has allowed the airport to maintain safe and efficient operations
even in the most challenging winter conditions, which has been a huge
benefit to airport users including Air Astana. Thirdly, the airport has
installed the latest IT systems for efficient processing of passengers
and their baggage from the point of check-in to boarding their flight.
Advanced technologies are also deployed for security screening to ensure
that high safety standards are maintained. Finally, Karaganda airport
offers the most advanced cargo terminal in Kazakhstan. All of these high
standard services are provided at a very reasonable cost.
“Airlines
and airports are totally inter-dependent entities, which rely on each
other to ensure safe, timely and efficient operation of aircraft,
passenger processing and provision of ground services. Karaganda Airport
proved to an outstanding service provider throughout 2010 and I’m
delighted to make this well earned Best Airport Partner award today. My
sincere thanks go to the airport’s management for building this
mutually beneficial partnership,” said Peter Foster, President of Air
Astana.