Tag Archives: 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:

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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As a result of the Fokker 50 being withdrawn from service, Air Astana ceased operating Astana to Uralsk, Astana to and Atyrau to Uralsk services on December 1, 2012.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:

Air Astana remains profitable in the first half of 2012, will retire the last Fokker 50 in January

Air Astana (Almaty) remains profitable for the first half of 2012, reporting a smaller net profit of $4.95 million.

The company issued the following report:

“Kazakhstan’s Air Astana saw its revenues grow by 13% to $394 million, matched by a similar increase in passenger numbers, although net profit declined to $4.95 million. Capacity grew by 11% with the addition of an additional Boeing 757-200 and three additional Embraer 190s. Its fleet size now stands at 26 after the retirement of three of its six Fokker 50s, with the remainder due for retirement by January 2013 to be replaced by two additional ERJ 190s.

New routes were launched from Astana to Omsk in Southeast Russia, from Astana to Tashkent and Baku, from Astana to Chymkent and Aktau in southern and western Kazakhstan, and from Almaty to Kazan in southern Russia. Planned new routes for the second half include Almaty to Hong Kong, Almaty to Ho Chi Minh City and Atyrau to Moscow. Flights from Astana to Beijing will be added to its existing Almaty to Beijing services. The airline will take delivery of 4 new Airbus A320s and 2 new A321s from November 2012 to May 2013, and recently placed an order for four new Boeing 767-300s and three Boeing 787-8s, to be delivered from November 2013 through 2017.”

Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis. The new Astana-Beijing route starting on August 25 will be operated with Boeing 757-200s. The pictured 757-2G5 P4-EAS (msn 29488) is seen arriving at London (Heathrow).

Air Astana:

Air Astana wins first Skytrax 4-Star rating in Russia/CIS/Eastern Europe, launches a new route to Kazan, Tatarstan

Air Astana (Almaty) has become the first carrier from Russia/CIS/Eastern Europe to be awarded the prestigious 4-Star rating in the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2012. Kazakhstan’s international flag carrier now ranks amongst the world’s best airlines for passenger service, with other 4-Star rated airlines including British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, QANTAS Airways and Thai Airways International.

Air Astana first won a Skytrax 3-Star rating in 2009 and was also ranked second amongst carriers for the “Best Airline: Eastern Europe” award in 2011.

Skytrax’s star rating audit examines more than 800 different areas of product and service delivery for each airline, where the ratings range from 1-Star to 5-Star. Most of the world’s best known airlines are rated either 3 or 4-Stars, with only five airlines currently rated as 5-Star.

In other news, Air Astana launched a new direct flight connecting Almaty to Kazan, capital of Tatarstan, Russia on June 2, 2012. The service is operated three times a week (Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday) using Embraer ERJ 190 airliners in 98 seat, two class configuration.

The new service from Almaty to Kazan is Air Astana’s seventh destination in the Russian Federation, with existing services operating from Almaty to Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Samara, as well as those operating from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, to Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. Passengers travelling from Kazan will be able to easily connect to Air Astana services from Almaty to Asian destinations including Bangkok, Dehli, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

Air Astana:

Short range routes from Almaty including the new Kazan route:

Click on the map to expand.

Air Astana orders four Boeing 767-300 ERs and three 787 Dreamliners

Air Astana (Almaty) and Boeing have announced an order for four 767-300 ERs (Extended Range) and three 787-8 Dreamliners. The order is valued at $1.3 billion at current list prices, making this the largest single order for commercial airplanes in Kazakhstan’s history.

Air Astana Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Air Astana orders new aircraft from Airbus, Boeing and Embraer

Air Astana Boeing 767-306 ER P4-KCA (msn 27612) AMS (Karl Cornil), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Air Astana (Almaty) has ordered six Airbus A320s, four Boeing 767-300 ERs and three 787 Dreamliners as well as two Embraer ERJ 190s.

The company last month took delivery of its fifth Boeing 757-200.

Read the full story from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Air Astana Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Air Astana and Kazakhstan celebrate 20 years of independence

Air Astana Airbus A320-232 P4-UAS (msn 2987) (20 Years Kazakhstan Independence) SEN (Keith Burton), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Air Astana (Almaty) and Kazakhstan are celebrating the 20th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union with this special Airbus A320 logojet.

Air Astana Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Air Astana produces a pre-tax first half profit of $36.9 million

Air Astana Boeing 767-306 ER P4-KCA (msn 27612) AMS (Karl Cornil), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Air Astana (Almaty) posted a pre-tax profit of $36.9 million for the first half of 2011, an increase of 10.4% over 2010. Revenues rose by 18.7% to $346 million and passenger numbers increased by 16.4% according to the airline.

In other news, Air Astana in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the independence of Kazakhstan, is decorating 10 Boeing and Airbus aircraft with special commemorative insignia and slogans until the end of 2011. The purpose is to promote Kazakhstan’s national identity and to attract awareness of visitors to this important event in the life of the country.

The process of decorating the fleet will be completed in September 2011, with the 10 hour decorative task for each aircraft being undertaken at intervals between scheduled flights.

Aircraft bearing commemorative markings will operate flights to 23 domestic and 31 international destinations.

Air Astana Slide Show: CLICK HERE