Air Astana takes delivery of its first A320neo

First A320neo delivered in the CIS.

Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, has taken delivery of its first A320neo at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse in the presence of airline executives and Government officials. The aircraft, which is leased through ALC, is part of a deal announced during Le Bourget airshow 2015 for 7 A320neo Family aircraft. In total Air Astana has ordered 11 A320neo aircraft that will join airline's Airbus fleet, which already includes 13 A320 Family aircraft, operated on the airline's domestic and international network.

Air Astana’s A320neo is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines and features a two class cabin layout, seating 16 passengers in business class and 132 in economy. The new aircraft will enter commercial service in the end of November and will be operated within Kazakhstan and on airline’s international network such as China, Turkey, India, Russia and UAE.

Photo caption: Mr Alex Khatibi, ALC Executive Vice President Marketing and Commercial affairs, Mr Chris Buckley, Head of Europe/Africa /Asia-Pacific/Freight & Asset Airbus and Mr Peter Foster, President & CEO of Air Astana.

"The A320 Family has proven to be a success in service with Air Astana over the past ten years, for its passenger appeal, low operating costs, reliability and safety record," said Peter Foster, President and CEO, Air Astana. "The A320neo Family offers significant improvements in all of these areas".

“We congratulate our long standing partner on their first A320neo delivery, which makes Air Astana the first operator of the world’s most advanced single-aisle aircraft in the CIS. We are confident that Air Astana will benefit greatly from the commonality with their existing A320 Family fleet as well as from its unprecedented fuel efficiency and unbeatable passenger comfort" said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.