Air Astana
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Air Astana’s First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Begins Test Flights
The first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner set to join the fleet of Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana has begun test flights in the United States. The aircraft, registered EI-KZA, is undergoing pre-delivery testing at Boeing’s Charleston facility. Air Astana plans to add three Boeing 787-9s to its fleet during 2026–2027. The airline has also reached an agreement for 15 additional 787-9s,…
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Air Astana and UN Women Partner to Support Women in Aviation
Air Astana and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 23 aimed at promoting gender equality and expanding employment opportunities for women in the aviation industry. Under the partnership, the two organisations plan to conduct joint awareness initiatives highlighting career opportunities for women in aviation, share…
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Air Astana and FlyArystan Receive Three Skytrax Awards
Air Astana Group received three awards at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026, held at The Langham Hotel in London on September 18, 2026. Air Astana was named “Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS” for the 15th consecutive year and received the “Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & CIS” award for the 10th time. The group’s low-cost…
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Joined Air Astana When It Had Three Aircraft, Now Leads a 63-Aircraft Group
Turkish executive Ibrahim Canliel, who joined Air Astana in 2003 when the airline operated a fleet of just three aircraft, became Group CEO on April 1, 2026. He succeeded Peter Foster, who had led the company for around 21 years. Speaking to Forbes Kazakhstan about his career, the 54-year-old Canliel said he was born in the Netherlands. After studying economics…
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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…
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Air Astana Revenue Rises as Higher Costs Weigh on Profitability
Kazakhstan-based Air Astana Group reported a net loss of $21.2 million for the first half of 2026 despite recording strong revenue growth. The group’s total revenue and other income increased by 16.1 percent year-on-year to $763.9 million. However, EBITDAR declined by 9.7 percent to $141.7 million, while the EBITDAR margin fell from 23.9 percent to 18.6 percent. Air Astana Group…
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Air Astana Plans to Launch Direct U.S. Flights in 2027
Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana is planning to launch its first scheduled direct flights to the United States in 2027. Under the airline’s current plans, services could be operated from either Almaty or the capital Astana to New York following the entry into service of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet. The route would become Air Astana’s first destination in the…
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Air Astana Becomes First Company in Kazakhstan to Receive DHL GoGreen Plus Certificate
Air Astana has become the first company in Kazakhstan to receive the DHL GoGreen Plus Certificate in recognition of its support for reducing emissions associated with international logistics through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The certificate was presented to Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel by DHL Express Kazakhstan General Director Evgeniy Bagdashkin. Canliel said sustainability is at the…
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Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel Shares Insights with HavaSosyalMedya at IATA AGM 2026 in Brazil
Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel answered questions from HavaSosyalMedya during the IATA AGM 2026 held in Brazil. Canliel shared key evaluations regarding the post-Covid recovery, the Russia-Ukraine war, the recent Gulf crisis, and the airline’s outlook on the Turkish market.Reflecting on the pandemic, Canliel noted that while Covid-19 presented unprecedented challenges for the aviation sector, the Air Astana Group managed…
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Air Astana Resumes Dubai Flights
Air Astana has announced that it will resume scheduled services between Almaty and Dubai from June 20, 2026, and between Astana and Dubai from July 10, 2026. Due to the closure of Iranian airspace, flights will operate via Pakistan to ensure the safety and reliability of services. Flight frequencies will be gradually increased as follows: Almaty–Dubai–Almaty • June 15–21: 2…
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