Air Astana was incorporated in late 2001 and its maiden flight was on the 15th May 2002.
The inaugural was attended by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Sir Richard Evans, representing the two shareholders, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and BAE Systems PLC of the UK.
These shareholders remain committed partners in the airline, with the Government holding a 51 percent share through its Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, and BAE Systems PLC holding 49 percent.
Operating to the highest standards
The airline’s mission is the same today as in 2001: “to provide profitable domestic and international air services to the highest standards of safety and service using modern generation aircraft in order to serve and complement the needs of Kazakhstan” (one of the world’s fastest-growing economies).
Air Astana maintains its fleet to audited EU EASA 145 standards. In 2011 it was admitted to the register of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). The audit was completed with Air Astana remaining the only airline from Kazakhstan to maintain repeated audit success, since it was first undertaken in 2007.
Growing the fleet
Today the airline operates a fleet of 26 Western aircraft, with an average age of 11 years for its aircraft, and close to 50 domestic and international routes. Its passengers are served by more than 3,500 highly qualified staff, the majority of whom are from Kazakhstan, supplemented by experienced foreign personnel. Since autumn 2005 the Air Astana team has been headed by Peter Foster, an airline executive with more than 30 years’ management experience, who reports to the Board of Directors.
Air Astana recently placed an order for purchasing Boeing 787, Boeing 767, Airbus A320 and Embraer 190 family aircraft that will further expand the fleet up to 33 aircraft by the end of 2016 and up to 43 aircraft by 2020.