Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s leading international carrier, continues to experience strong traffic growth on its Asian network. As a result, the airline is planning to boost frequencies on existing long haul scheduled services from Almaty to Bangkok, Dehli and Kuala Lumpur from December, as well as launch a new scheduled service to Hong Kong in early 2012 and initiate a winter season only service to Ho Chi Minch City, Vietnam in late 2012. All long-haul services will be operated by Boeing 757/767 aircraft, with the Business class cabin featuring lie-flat beds and KCTV personal in-flight entertainment system.

Services from Almaty to Bangkok will increase to five frequencies a week, Almaty to Dehli will increase to four times a week and Almaty to Kuala Lumpur will increase to three times a week.

A twice weekly service from Almaty to Hong Kong will be launched in February 2012 and a winter season only service from Almaty to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam will commence in October 2012.

“Expanding political, business and tourism links between Kazakhstan and Asia continue to drive strong traffic growth on services to the region, with increased feed from Central Asia into the expanding Almaty hub also making a significant contribution” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. “Immediate frequency increases on existing services and the launch of new services to Hong Kong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City in 2012, reflect the fact that Asia is playing an increasingly important part in the strategic long-term development of Air Astana.”

Air Astana currently operates a fleet of 25 aircraft comprising two Boeing 767-300, four Boeing 757-200, ten Airbus A321/A320/A319, three Embraer E190 and six Fokker 50. A fifth Boeing 757 will join the fleet in December 2011. The airline serves 23 domestic and 31 international destinations.

Air Astana is a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the only airline in Kazakhstan certified to perform aircraft maintenance to European standard EASA/Part 145. In September 2011, Air Astana passed its third IATA Operational Safety Audit, without any findings.

Air Astana is a joint venture between the National Welfare Fund “Samruk-Kazyna JSC and the British company BAE Systems, with shares of 51% and 49% respectively.