What's Happening with Air Astana?
The flag carrier of Kazakhstan, Air Astana, has announced 2 new routes both operating to Russia. The new routes will start in June 2018 and will be operated by ERJ190 aircraft equipment, the carriers smallest jet aircraft. The carrier has been increasing its network rapidly and has become one of the most successful Kazakh airlines that has ever operated, even if it posted its first ever loss in 2016. Growth in 2017 had its ups and downs, but Air Astana has continued to thrive. The airline has also scheduled its London route to daily and has enhanced its network by starting a codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific. In addition to all of this, the Kazakh carrier recently won an award in Saint Petersburg.
The first new route to Kazan in Russia will be operated once weekly in June 2018, but will be upgraded to 3 times weekly by September 2018. The second route, to Tyumen, will operate 3 times weekly at launch in June 2018. Both flights will fly from Astana, the airline's main hub and will operate in the morning, afternoon and evening (the flight to Kazan will fly these when it is operated 3 times weekly in September 2018).
In other news, Air Astana has recently received its first A321NEO aircraft which the airline states will operate regional and domestic flights throughout Kazakhstan. The airline has fitted the aircraft with 151 economy seats and 28 Business class seats. Both classes are fitted with IFE (In-flight entertainment). Most airlines will not install IFE on their regional fleet due to the close proximity of flight destinations. Air Canada is one of the few major airlines that has seat back televisions across its entire Airbus/Boeing fleet, although they’re always being critizised as “unresponsive and small”.
Air Astana also operates a fleet of 5 Boeing 757-200 and 3 Boeing 767-300ER on its longer routes, which have an average age of around 20.7 years. The airline’s A320 and A320NEO aircraft dominate it’s short-medium haul network. The A320NEO and A321NEO are the newest Airbus aircraft which it has currently and on order, which will be replacing the 757s in the coming years. Additionally, the airline has the ERJ190-E2 on order, which are scheduled to be delivered by the final quarter of 2018 operating short routes, being domestic or international. Although the airline has 3 firm orders for Boeing 787-8s with options for 8 more, the airline has delayed its delivery until 2021.
Air Astana reported its first loss in 2016 but has since overcome the issue by posting a profit in 2017. Additionally, the airline has recorded a passenger growth increase of 12% compared to the previous year; During 2015 and 2016, Air Astana recorded a decrease in passenger growth in numbers. Air freight grew 23% and capacity on passenger routes increased 7%. The airline added 2 new routes last year, those being from Astana to Kiev and Delhi. The airline increased frequencies on many routes including flights to Seoul, Bangkok and Istanbul. When seeing these results, Air Astana's CEO Peter Foster stated “Astana EXPO 2017 and increased transit business through the new terminal at Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport in Astana have been the main growth drivers. EXPO was a great success and substantially exceeded its visitor target. Transit business grew by 58% and is now 12% of total business. Our comparatively low unit cost has enabled us to successfully grow this business segment by being competitive in key overseas markets, such as Russia, China, India and the EU, and smaller high growth markets such as Ukraine, Georgia and Uzbekistan”.
Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg, has recently awarded Air Astana with the 'Most dynamic carrier award'. Air Astana was a major player in Pulkovo airport's growth as passenger numbers transported by Air Astana in Saint Petersburg increased by 37%! The airline offers 'convenient connections for passengers travelling from St. Petersburg via Almaty to Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Dushanbe, Bishkek, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tehran, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Urumqi and via Astana to Bangkok, Delhi, Bishkek, Seoul, Beijing, Tashkent and Urumqi', says Air Astana's website. The airline operates daily flights to the Russian city using A320 aircraft from both the capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, and it's other hub in Astana.
Air Astana has recently increased its frequences to the English city of London which has turned out to be very successful. The airline currently operates 5 daily flights to London Heathrow with 757-200 aircraft and on unique occasions, a 767 aircraft which offers 26% more capacty comapred to the former. The airline will soon offer daily flights to the British city which has been a major contributor to the Air Astana profits. Peter Foster said, “We are delighted to have finally secured daily flight status on what is such a prestigious and popular route – the only direct service linking the UK to Kazakhstan". Air Astana offers a three class layout aboard its 757-200; This includes Economy, Economy Sleeper and Business class. Economy Sleeper is a unique type of Economy class which can be compared to as Premium Economy that many other airlines offer.
Hong Kong based airline, Cathay Pacific, will introduce the Air Astana, 'KC' code on routes from Hong Kong to Singapore, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, which are all destinations that Air Astana currently doesn't fly to . On the other hand, Air Astana will place the 'CX' code of Cathay Pacific on its routes between Almaty and Hong Kong and on connecting flights between Almaty and Astana for passengers who are flying between Hong Kong and Astana. Air Astana currently operates 2 weekly flights between Hong Kong and Almaty but will add an additional service by March 25. Richard Ledger, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Air Astana said, “With its excellent worldwide connectivity, Cathay Pacific is our ideal partner as we look to extend our reach across Asia and Australia via Hong Kong. Together, our airlines share an award-winning reputation for consistently delivering the very highest standards of customer service.
Air Astana may become a major competitor to the Middle-eastern Majors, as the airline is expanding to many unique destinations with a great service attracting many connecting passengers. The Kazakh carrier is renewing its fleet rapidly with 23 outstanding orders for different aircraft such as A320 family 'NEO' aircraft and Embraer E2 aircraft. The airline is enjoying a monopoly on many of its routes such as its flight to London which is the only available flight between Kazakhstan and Britian. Air Astana has two major hubs in the country and is offering many destinations, persuading customers to connect on the airline's unique destinations. The Kazakh airline is continuing to improve its connectivity for passengers and will soon become a major competitor for the Gulf Majors.