Air Astana Selects Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft for Major Fleet Modernisation
Almaty, Kazakhstan – Air Astana JSC (the "Company" and, together with its subsidiary FlyArystan, the "Group"), the leading airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size, has committed to a major fleet modernisation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for up to 50 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. This would be the largest ever order placed by the airline, comprising of 25 firm aircraft and 25 purchase options.
Almaty, Kazakhstan – Air Astana JSC (the "Company" and, together with its subsidiary FlyArystan, the "Group"), the leading airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size, has committed to a major fleet modernisation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for up to 50 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. This would be the largest ever order placed by the airline, comprising of 25 firm aircraft and 25 purchase options.
The agreement includes a mix of Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with the first deliveries starting in 2031. The majority of the aircraft will be allocated to the Airbus A321LR, a version of the aircraft of which Air Astana was one of the first airlines to install a deluxe configuration, for deployment on its pioneering long-haul services to Asia and Europe. Air Astana’s operation of the A321LR over the past five years has set the standard for new operators of the type around the world. This order would be in addition to one announced earlier this month and remains subject to shareholder approval.
“Air Astana’s large order for a new fleet of Airbus A320neo family aircraft reflects a commitment to maintaining its reputation for operational efficiency and service excellence in the long term,” said Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana. “The Airbus A320neo family has proven to be an outstanding success in service with Air Astana over many years and I’m confident that the new fleet will continue to boost sustainable growth and profitability in the long term.”
Air Astana introduced the first Airbus A320ceo into the fleet in 2006, with the aircraft operated on the airline’s domestic network and services to international destinations in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The first new generation Airbus A320neo family aircraft joined the fleet in November 2016 and was followed by first Airbus A321LR in September 2019. Airbus A321LR aircraft are operated on long-haul routes to destinations in Asia and Europe.
The Air Astana Group currently operates a fleet of 62 aircraft, including 59 Airbus A320 family aircraft, split between Air Astana, the full-service airline and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline.
For more information, please contact:
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Air Astana Group |
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Investor Relations Simon Wray (Head of Investor Relations) |
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Corporate Communications |
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Vigo Consulting (IR and PR Adviser to Air Astana Group) |
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Tim McCall Joe Quinlan Amelia Thorn |
+44 20 7390 0230 |
About Air Astana Group
Air Astana Group (Air Astana JSC and FlyArystan JSC) is the largest airline group in the Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The Group operates a fleet of 62 aircraft split between Air Astana, its full-service airline that operated its inaugural flight in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019. The Group provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Gulf, India and Europe. Air Astana has been recognised by Skytrax as the Best Airline in Central Asia and CIS fourteen years running and received the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia and CIS award nine times in a row. FlyArystan has been recognised as the Best Low-Cost Carrier in Central Asia and CIS at the Skytrax awards three times. Additionally, Air Astana was awarded a five-star rating in the major airline category by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). Air Astana JSC is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange and the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRA).