Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national airline, plans to expand its aircraft fleet with 6 Embraer E-190 in 2011-2012. The first aircraft arrived in Almaty on April 30 and is already performing domestic flights from Almaty to Karaganda, Pavlodar, Aktau and Atyrau, as well as regional flights from Almaty to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, and Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. The Company plans to launch new flights to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, and Samara in southern Russia starting from June 2, 2011. Altogether, Air Astana plans to expand its fleet to six Embraer E-190s, with three leased aircraft being delivered in 2011, another two purchased plus one further leased aircraft arriving in 2012. Air Astanas’ E-190s are capable of seating 97 in a two class layout and will operate alongside the existing fleet of Airbus A320 Family aircraft on the regional/domestic network. The new aircraft will also gradually replace the fleet of six Fokker 50 turboprops by the end of 2012. A total of 23 Air Astana pilots have been trained to fly the Embraer E-190 at Flight Safety International in Paris, with more crews for the next two aircraft already under training at the same facility. According to the official website of the Company, Air Astana achieved a record net profit of US$ 77.71 million (audited) in 2010, up 61% over 2009, on sales of $656 million. Total seating capacity increased by 4% to 7.4 million RPKs and the number of passengers carried increased by 17% to 2.59 million. Service highlights during 2010 included the launch of several new regional services from Almaty and Astana, the introduction of KCTV in Business Class on long-haul services, and the installation of flat beds in Business Class on the Boeing 757. Air Astana was incorporated in late 2001. Its maiden flight was on 15th May 2002 from Almaty to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The Company is owned by the Kazakh Government (holding a 51% share) through its Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, and BAE Systems PLC (holding 49%). Today the airline operates a fleet of 24 western aircraft with an average age of 7 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.
Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national airline, plans to expand its aircraft fleet with 6 Embraer E-190 in 2011-2012. The first aircraft arrived in Almaty on April 30 and is already performing domestic flights from Almaty to Karaganda, Pavlodar, Aktau and Atyrau, as well as regional flights from Almaty to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, and Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. The Company plans to launch new flights to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, and Samara in southern Russia starting from June 2, 2011.
Altogether, Air Astana plans to expand its fleet to six Embraer E-190s, with three leased aircraft being delivered in 2011, another two purchased plus one further leased aircraft arriving in 2012. Air Astanas’ E-190s are capable of seating 97 in a two class layout and will operate alongside the existing fleet of Airbus A320 Family aircraft on the regional/domestic network. The new aircraft will also gradually replace the fleet of six Fokker 50 turboprops by the end of 2012.
A total of 23 Air Astana pilots have been trained to fly the Embraer E-190 at Flight Safety International in Paris, with more crews for the next two aircraft already under training at the same facility.
According to the official website of the Company, Air Astana achieved a record net profit of US$ 77.71 million (audited) in 2010, up 61% over 2009, on sales of $656 million. Total seating capacity increased by 4% to 7.4 million RPKs and the number of passengers carried increased by 17% to 2.59 million. Service highlights during 2010 included the launch of several new regional services from Almaty and Astana, the introduction of KCTV in Business Class on long-haul services, and the installation of flat beds in Business Class on the Boeing 757.
Air Astana was incorporated in late 2001. Its maiden flight was on 15th May 2002 from Almaty to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The Company is owned by the Kazakh Government (holding a 51% share) through its Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, and BAE Systems PLC (holding 49%).
Today the airline operates a fleet of 24 western aircraft with an average age of 7 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.