The Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus, operating on 94 routes across 21 countries. Through its young and modern fleet of 50 aircraft, it provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, intra-regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe (including Turkey), the Middle East and Asia (including India and China). The Air Astana Group’s two differentiated but complementary brands (Air Astana, its full-service brand and the leading carrier of Kazakhstan, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline brand) allows the airline group to target different customer markets and geographies, providing choice across a range of customer needs and travel purposes.
“ Air Astana has a unique strategic edge thanks to our ability to capitalise on one of the lowest unit costs in the industry to sustain competitive airfares, without compromising on the award-winning full-service passenger experience we provide in our modern, fuel efficient aircraft. ”
Nurlan Zhakupov
Chairman of the Board
Our brands
Air Astana
Launched in 2002, Air Astana is Kazakhstan’s leading carrier and largest airline brand by revenue and fleet size. As a full-service airline brand, it provides scheduled and charter, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes. Air Astana offers a network of predominately point-to-point routes in growing markets to tap into increasing levels of mobility in Kazakhstan and its near-home markets.
FlyArystan
Entering the market in 2019, FlyArystan was one of the first LCCs in Central Asia. It provides scheduled shorthaul and medium-haul, point-to-point air travel across Kazakhstan and further into the Caucasus, Central Asia, Turkey and the Middle East. The Air Astana Group manages FlyArystan as an independent LLC brand, allowing the brand to leverage the LCC business model used in Asia, the US and Europe to offer its customers consistently low fares, aiming to stimulate demand in underserved markets.
What sets us apart
QUALITY
Passenger expectations are formed as much by comfort and service standards as they are by punctuality and reliability. We strive to provide the best quality customer experience from the moment a ticket is purchased to the moment a customer leaves the aircraft.
EFFICIENCY
Our rigorous focus on efficiency drives our success and helps us maintain a low cost base as a key strategic advantage. This helps mitigate risks such as high fuel prices and provides scope to explore new opportunities.
SAFETY
We have an impeccable safety record. The implementation of the highest safety standards is engrained into our daily practices and we are fully compliant with the highest international technical and operational safety standards.
Awards
- Sky Choice Travel Award for Best Passenger Service and Product Innovation Airline of the Year (2024)
- APEX Award for Best Cabin Service and Best Entertainment in Central and Southern Asia (2023)
- APEX Five Star Major Airline award (2023)
- Best Airline in Central Asia and CIS by Skytrax World Airline Awards (2022, 2023)
- APEX Award for Best Entertainment System and Inflight Food & Beverage in Central Asia (2022)
- Best Airline in Central Asia by Skytrax World Airline Awards (2021)
- 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax (2021)
- Diamond status at Apex Health Safety audit (2021)
- Platinum Award by Amenities Initiatives for Sustainable Packaging Initiative (2021)
- Regional Passenger Choice Award for Best In-Flight Entertainment in the Central Asia Region (2020)
- MRO Russia & CIS Award for achievements in aircraft maintenance in Central Asia (2020)
- Pax International Readership Awards (2019, 2020)
- Onboard Hospitality Awards (2018, 2021)
- APEX Regional Passenger Choice Award (2018-2020)
- TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award (2018-2020)
- Airline Market Leadership award by Air Transport World (2015)
- Best Airline in Central Asia and India by the Skytrax Awards (2012-2019)
- Travel Plus Award for best amenity kits (various years between 2010-2018)
About Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is one of the largest countries in the World and has one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is also home to a youthful and educated population, giving rise to a growing and aspirational middle-class.
The aviation market in Kazakhstan provides access to two major sources of growth:
The domestic passenger market remains heavily underdeveloped. With more than 50% of the population that has never flown domestically, there is significant scope to stimulate the market. Air traffic in Kazakhstan has tripled over the past decade, reflecting the nation’s appetite to travel and explore.
In addition, Kazakhstan sits at the crossroads of Eurasia, straddling burgeoning markets such as Europe, the Middle East, India and China, creating the potential for significant transit passenger growth thanks to increasing demand for a convenient point of connection between these rapidly growing markets.