Category Archives: Air Astana

Air Astana takes delivery of first Airbus A321neo

Air Astana (Almaty) has taken delivery of the first Airbus A321neo at the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft is on an operating lease from Aercap, with the deal including two further A321neo and one A320neo aircraft for delivery planned in 2018.

The Air Astana A321neo is configured with 28 Business Class and 151 Economy class seats, all of which are equipped with personal IFE systems. The A321neo is powered by the latest generation Pratt & Whitney engines, which together with aerodynamic improvements, make it the quietest aircraft in its class and also delivers fuel consumption 15% lower than the previous model. The cabin features larger overhead-bin capacity and a new mood-lighting system with LED technology.

The aircraft will be operated on Air Astana’s network of domestic and regional routes.

Air Astana currently operates 13 Airbus A320 aircraft and one A320neo, which was delivered in 2016. The carrier plans to increase the fleet of A320neo family aircraft to 17 by 2020.

Photo: Air Astana. The pictured Airbus A321-271N D-AYAK (msn 7567) became P4-KDC when it was officially haned over on December 30, 2017.

Air Astana aircraft slide show:

Air Astana to lease three Airbus A320neo aircraft from SMBC

SMBC Aviation Capital has issued this statement:

SMBC Aviation Capital has announced that it has concluded a three Airbus A320neo aircraft deal with Air Astana, the national flag carrier of Kazakhstan. This is a new customer for SMBC Aviation Capital and the aircraft will be provided from the company’s order book of 110 A320neo aircraft with Airbus.

The A320neo will be fitted with Pratt and Whitney GTF engines and will have delivery slots in the last quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

Air Astana is the first operator of this type of aircraft in the Central Asian region and has plans to grow its neo fleet to 17 aircraft by 2020.

AerCap confirms the placement of five Embraer E190-E2s with Air Astana

AerCap Holdings N.V. has announced it has confirmed the placement of five Embraer E190-E2 jets to Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan. The aircraft, on long term lease from AerCap’s order book with Embraer, will begin delivering to Air Astana in the last quarter 2018.

AerCap is the launch lessor customer of Embraer’s E-Jets E2 second generation of this family of commercial aircraft with a total of 50 Embraer E190-E2s and E195-E2s on order.

The E2 aircraft offer greater range and operational efficiency which will support Air Astana’s growing network and open new market opportunities.

The E190 will allow Air Astana to open up smaller markets in southern Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia including smaller domestic routes.

Air Astana received its first original E190 in 2011.

Image: AerCap.

Route Map:

The first Airbus A320neo for Air Astana

Air Astana to replace its Boeing 757-200s with new Airbus A321neos from ALC

Air Lease Corporation (AL) announced today long term lease agreements for seven new Airbus A320neo Family aircraft with Air Astana (Almaty), the national airline of Kazakhstan.

The seven aircraft include two new A320neos and five new A321neos and LRs, all from ALC’s order book with Airbus. One A320neo is scheduled to deliver in Spring 2016, while the remaining six aircraft will deliver in 2018 and 2019. The A321neo aircraft will replace the remaining Boeing 757-200s (top).

Top Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-2G5 P4-FAS (msn 29489) arrives at London (Heathrow).

Air Astana aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Astana has been adding Airbus A320s and new A321s so the final replacement by A321s is not a surprise. Airbus A321-231 P4-NAS (msn 1042) taxies at Amsterdam.

Air Astana to resume operations to Dubai on September 1

Air Astana (Almaty) will restart services from Almaty to Dubai from September 1, 2014.

Flights will be operated by Airbus A320 family aircraft. Flights from Almaty to Dubai International Airport (DXB) will depart at 07:55 and arrive 10:25 at Terminal 1. Dubai-Almaty flights will depart at 11:40 arriving at Almaty at 17:55.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 P4-XAS (msn 4519) arrives at Southend after a test flight.

Air Astana:

Air Astana to start Astana-London Heathrow weekly flights on October 31

Air Astana (Almaty) will start a weekly nonstop route linking the capital of Astana with London (Heathrow) starting on October 31. The new route will complement existing Almaty-London (Heathrow) flights and will be operated with Boeing 757-200s per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-2G5 P4-GAS (msn 28112) arrives at the resort destination of Antalya, Turkey.

Air Astana:

Air Astana takes delivery of its first Sharklet equipped Airbus A320

Air Astana (Almaty), Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, has taken delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with Airbus’ Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices. The airline becomes the first in the region to benefit from the new wing-tip devices. Air Astana’s A320-232 P4-KBB (msn 5613), powered by IAE V2500 engines, features a comfortable two class cabin, seating 148 passengers with 16 in business class and 132 in economy.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by four per cent on longer sectors. They are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. Sharklets are an option on A320 Family aircraft. They offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

Air Astana started commercial service with its first Airbus aircraft, an A320, in 2006, and is currently operating one A319, seven A320s and four A321s.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot. The pictured A320-232 F-WWIC became P4-KBB when it was handed over on May 4, 2013 at Toulouse.

Air Astana:

Air Astana takes delivery of its first new A321 direct-delivery from Airbus

Air Astana (Almaty), Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, has taken delivery of its first A321 (PR-KDA, msn 5357) out of a total of six A320 Family aircraft ordered from Airbus in May 2008. The delivery was celebrated in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The aircraft will join Air Astana’s fleet, which already includes 10 A320 Family aircraft, operated on the airline’s domestic and international network.

The airline’s A321, powered by IAE V2500 engines, features a two class cabin layout, seating 28 passengers in business class and 151 in economy.

Air Astana started commercial service with its first Airbus aircraft, an A320, in 2006, and is currently operating one A319, seven A320s and two A321s.

Air Astana:

Frameable Color Prints and Posters:

Air Astana retires its last two Fokker 50s on November 30

Air Astana (Almaty) has retired its last Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 (Fokker 50). The airline issued this statement:

Air Astana continues to phase out the fleet of Fokker 50 turboprops, with the last two aircraft scheduled to be returned to the lessor in January 2013. The original fleet of six aircraft will be fully replaced by new generation Embraer E-190 jet airliners by mid 2013.

During eight years of service with Air Astana, the Fokker 50 fleet completed 50,000 domestic flights, flew 90,000 hours and safely carried 1.5 million passengers.

As a result of the Fokker 50 being withdrawn from service, Air Astana ceased operating Astana to Uralsk, Astana to and Atyrau to Uralsk services on December 1, 2012. The airports at Uralsk and Semey do not meet the international safety and equipment standards required to support Embraer E-190 jet operations. The resumption of flights to Uralsk and Semey will only be possible after a major upgrade of airports to jet standard.

“Modernizing the fleet is a strategic priority of Air Astana, with new generation Embraer E-190s having started replacing Fokker 50 turboprops on the short-haul routes over the past 18 months. The new aircraft offer our passengers more comfort and time-saving convenience to destinations Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus”, said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. “Air Astana regrets any inconvenience caused to passengers caused by the withdraw of these turboprop services, but safety is our number one priority”.

Air Astana: