OREANDA-NEWS. November 30, 2010. Air Astana, the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is launching a series of new routes from Almaty, Astana and Aktau to destinations in Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkey during November and December, reported the press-centre of Air Astana.   

New  routes to Russia are the twice weekly (Monday/Thursday)  service by A320 from Almaty to St Petersburg (Pulkovo) commencing on 2nd December and the twice weekly (Wednesday/Sunday) service by Fokker 50 from Astana – Ekaterinburg commencing on 8th December. These new services bring the total number of routes to Russia up to five, with existing services already including Almaty to Moscow, Astana to Moscow and Astana to Novosibirsk.

The capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe will be served three times a week (Wednesday/Friday /Sunday) from Almaty by Fokker 50 commencing on 21st November and the capital of  Uzbekistan, Tashkent, will be served three times a week (Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday) from Almaty by A320 commencing on 2nd December.

A new once a week service from Aktau in western Kazakhstan to Istanbul by A320 will commence on 28th November. Existing Air Astana services operate to Istanbul from  Almaty, Astana and Atyrau.

“Air Astana was rated as one of the best airlines in Eastern Europe by Skytrax earlier this year and continues to grow in strength and reputation as Central Asia’s leading carrier. With these latest new services destined to prove popular with government, business and leisure travellers, more and more passengers will  have the opportunity to conveniently connect to Air Astana's award winning long-haul services from Almaty to  major cites in Asia, Europe and the Middle East,“ said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.

The launch of the new Air Astana services to the CIS reflects another significant step in the process of developing Almaty and Astana as major air hubs for the region. Services from Almaty to Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Astana to Novosibirsk in southern Russia and Astana to Urumqui in western China were launched in 2009 and from Almaty to Urumqui in mid 2010. New services to be launched in 2011 include  Astana to Samara in Russia, Almaty to Kiev in Ukraine, Almaty to Novosibirsk and  Almaty to Bodrum in Turkey.

A fleet of new generation Embraer E-190 airliners have been selected to specifically operate on Air Astana’s expanding Central Asia network, with the first of three leased aircraft scheduled for delivery in early 2011. Airbus A320 and Fokker 50 aircraft operate these services in the interim.

Air Astana commenced regular flight operations on 15th May 2002 and currently operates a network that serves 21 domestic and 23 international destinations from its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau. Air Astana flies an all western fleet comprising of two Boeing 767s, four Boeing 757s, ten Airbus A320 Family and six Fokker 50  aircraft. Air Astana is a full member of the International Air Transport Association and is the only airline in Kazakhstan with EASA Part 145 aircraft maintenance certification. Air Astana is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s JS Company Sovereign Wealth Fund SamrukKazyna (51%) and BAE Systems (49%).