Air Astana president does not consider Kazakhstan's domestic air fares too high

President of Air Astana does not consider Kazakhstan's air fares for domestic flights too high, Tengrinews.kz reports citing air company’s head Peter Foster as saying at the press-conference during the international forum called Safe and Efficient Air Transport – Key Factor for Sustainable Growth of Central Asia and Caucasus in Astana. “I would like to change the incorrect opinion that Air Astana’s prices are too high. Comparing average rates of our company at the same-distance routes in Europe and even in Russia, makes it evident that our prices are not higher, but even lower, or at least equal,” Foster said at the press-conference. According to head of Kazakhstan’s airline, Air Astana is currently under a lot of pressure because of high aviation fuel prices, as it has gone 125 percent up, and since fuel costs make one third of the fares, it has a negative effect on the company in general. “The rates in Kazakhstan airports are very high compared to world’s and Europe’s average rates. But Air Astana, being under such pressure and with such high airport fares, is nevertheless planning to further retain the prices at the same level and has no intention to raise them,” Peter Foster said. By Shynar Ospanova