About Air Astana

Air Astana initiates fleet modernisation with A320 family aircraft

Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan and Central Asia’s leading international carrier, has initiated a major fleet modernisation programme with the official delivery of its first leased Airbus A320 aircraft. A further four leased A320s are scheduled to join the fleet in 2006.The new A320 fleet represents the first step in a major fleet expansion plan, which will see the fleet grow to more than thirty aircraft by 2014.

Air Astana’s new A320s will offer a comfortable two-class layout, seating 16 passengers in business class and 132 in economy class and will be operated on routes between Almaty and Astana, Aktobe, Atyrau, Aktau, Moscow, Dubai, Beijing, and Delhi; from Atyrau to Frankfurt ; from Aktau to Moscow; and from Astana to Istanbul. All aircraft will be powered by International Aero Engines V2500 engines.

The arrival of the first A320 was marked by major ceremonies in Almaty & Astana, which were attended by senior Kazakhstan government and airline officials led by Mr Askar Mamin, Minister of Transport and Communications and Mr Peter Foster, the recently appointed President of Air Astana.

“The arrival of new Airbus A320 marks the opening of a new era in the development of Air Astana and will give further impetus to its status as Central Asia’s leading international carrier. This represents an important first step in the government’s transport strategy, one of the main goals of which is increasing the airline’s passenger traffic over the next ten years,” said Mr Askar Mamin, Minister of Transport and Communications, Government of Kazakhstan.

“With its high passenger appeal and low operating cost, the A320 is the ideal aircraft for Air Astana on operate on its rapidly expanding network of domestic and regional services. Aside from more new aircraft with enhanced cabin facilities, Air Astana passengers can soon look forward to other new amenities and services including Business Class lounges, internet booking, electronic ticketing, automated check-in and a frequent flyer programme,” said Mr Peter Foster, President, Air Astana.

Air Astana currently operate a mixed fleet of twelve western aircraft on a network of 24 domestic and 17 international routes and employs almost 1,300 staff.