Air Astana

Air Astana was incorporated in late 2001. Its maiden flight was on 15th May 2002 from Almaty to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

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% share through its Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, and BAE Systems PLC holding 49%.

The airline’s mission is the same today as in 2001: “to provide 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 is the only airline in Kazakhstan to maintain its fleet to audited EU EASA 145 standards. In 2008 it was admitted to the register of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) – one of of the few airlines in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to have achieved this.

Today the airline operates a fleet of 24 western aircraft with an average age of 10 years for its jet aircraft, close to 50 domestic and international routes. Its passengers are served by 3,000 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 25 years’ experience, who reports to the Board of Directors.

Air Astana recently placed an order for new Airbus 320 family aircraft, introduced the Embraer E190 for regional services in addition to the Boeing 757-200 and Boeing 767-300ER fleet and aims to grow its fleet to 34 aircraft by 2014, and to 63 aircraft by 2022. The airline is now recognized as a clear leader in the CIS region, as it continues to compliment its modern fleet with a large number of technical and service innovations designed to ensure that air travel to, from and within Kazakhstan is as reliable and convenient as possible.

Air Astana Today the airline operates a fleet of 24 western aircraft with an average age of 10 years for its jet aircraft, close to 50 domestic and international routes. Its passengers are served by 3,000 highly-qualified staff, the majority of whom are from Kazakhstan, supplemented by experienced foreign personnel.  >>>