OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 June 2008 was announced, that at Astana’s International Airport, Air Astana presented a new Airbus A-320, symbolizing the development of regional and international aviation at the capital of Kazakhstan.

The Airbus A-320 registered number Р4-WAS, “Whisky” was delivered from Airbus premises in Toulouse city to to Astana to mark the 6th anniversary of the airline and 10th anniversary of Astana city. Minister of Transport and Communications Serik Ahmetov, Astana city’s vice-akim Amirhan Rahimzhanov, vice-minister of Transport and Communications Azat Bekturov, president of International airport of Astana Abdel Kipshakbayev, CIS regional sales director of Airbus Concern Antoine Compt and representatives from Aviation Authorities, Administration of the city, Diplomatic corps, Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministries, Departments and Committees participated in the ceremony. The program consisted of a press-conference, and a ribbon cutting ceremony and unique laser show in the midst of which was a new Airbus A-320.

The new aircraft differs from its precedents with its improved design of the air show and renewed symbols, beside that it equipped with modern system of management of entertaining and SATCOM integral system, allowing to support the telephonic connection with the crew directly from the office.

The Airbus A-320 will be based in Astana and will service routes such as Astana – Aktobe – Astana (4 times per week); Astana – Oskemen – Astana (3 times per week); Astana – Almaty – Astana (supplemental 5 frequencies per week); Astana – Istanbul – Astana (one more frequency); Astana – Moscow – Astana (one more frequency) and a new seasonal direction – Astana – Antalya – Astana (2 times per week). Also a new connecting flights will appear through Astana, Aktobe – Dubai, Oskemen – Frankfurt, Petropavlovsk – Moscow etc. the quantity of flights from Astana to Frankfurt will be increased from 4 times per week to 5 times in July and then to 6 times in September. The Airbus A-320 may replace the turbo propeller Fokker-50, used by the Company on some domestic routes. In general by 2010, Air Astana is expecting to replace all of the Fokker-50 from its fleet. The increase of the quantity of air carriers at the International airport of Astana city will support the realization of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan’s plan for establishing the Astana airport as the biggest Aviation Technical Center in Central Asia and West Siberia.

Peter Foster, President of Air Astana remarked “This year Air Astana celebrated its 6th year of operation, and its first flight from Almaty to Astana. It is symbolic that on the 10th anniversary of the capital city of Kazakhstan, Air Astana plans major increases of flight frequencies from/to the International Airport of Astana. The presentation of a new aircraft in Astana is our gift to the capital city of Kazakhstan. In July we are expecting the arrival of one more Airbus A-320 and in September Airbus A-319. 11 of June the document about purchasing 6 more aircrafts from Airbus A-320 series were signed. Financial support of the purchase of the aircraft will be funded by the company by itself without using State warranties and without using finances from the State budget. All this tells us that the company is working by making plans in order to achieve its goal – to increase its aircraft fleet of aircraft to 63 by 2022 and become the leading airline in CIS”.