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 and completing an MBA in finance, he worked as a tourist guide in Türkiye during his student years. He began his aviation career in 1998 at KLM’s Abu Dhabi office.
Canliel later turned down a regional management role at KLM covering Central Asia, the Caucasus, Türkiye and the Balkans to join Air Astana during its early years. At the airline, he held various positions across marketing, sales, revenue management, commercial planning and finance.
In 2018, Canliel was preparing to return to Istanbul after receiving an offer from Boeing. However, he remained with Air Astana after being invited to take on the CFO role and lead the company’s initial public offering process. He played a key role in the IPO, which was completed in 2024.
Today, the Air Astana Group, which includes Air Astana and FlyArystan, operates a fleet of 63 aircraft. Canliel said his appointment as CEO reflects the career development opportunities within the company and continuity in its management structure.
