Air Astana Sees Fewer Engine-Related Groundings as International Growth Accelerates

Air Astana Group is accelerating the expansion of its international network as the number of aircraft grounded due to issues with Pratt & Whitney engines continues to decline.

The group said the number of aircraft out of service for engine inspections in the second quarter of 2026 decreased by approximately 60% compared with the same period last year. Air Astana management expects to have no aircraft grounded due to these engine-related issues by the summer 2027 season.

With more fleet capacity becoming available, the group has increasingly focused on the Asian market. Air Astana Group’s seat capacity in China increased by 81% year on year during the second quarter, while both Air Astana and its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan launched new routes in the region.

FlyArystan also expanded its operations in Türkiye by launching new flights from Almaty and Astana to Gazipaşa-Alanya.

Despite the operational recovery, engine-related issues and rising costs continue to affect the group’s financial performance. Air Astana Group’s second-quarter revenue increased by 18.3% to $433 million, while the company ended the first half of 2026 with a net loss of $21.2 million.

As capacity constraints related to Pratt & Whitney engines gradually ease, Air Astana Group is expected to continue expanding its international network in the coming period.