OREANDA-NEWS. August 09, 2011. Air Astana, the national flag carrier of Kazakhstan, and Embraer have signed a contract for the sale of two EMBRAER 190 jets. The deal also includes options for a further two aircraft. The total value of the contract, at list price, is USD 85.6 million, based on January 2011 economic conditions, and could reach USD 171.2 million if all options are exercised. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first semester 2012, reported the press-centre of Air Astana.

Air Astana is already operating two EMRBAER 190 jets under a lease agreement with Jetscape, Inc and will receive two additional aircraft on lease from Air Lease Corp in 2011/2012. The latest two aircraft  on order will bring Air Astana’s fleet up to six Embraer 190 jets in 2012.

Purchase finance for all aircraft on order has been arranged independently by Air Astana, without calling upon government gurantees.  The purchase of its own aircraft is a part of Air Astana’s strategic development plan, which foresees an increase in the fleet to 43 aircraft  by 2022.

“Air Astana is pursuing its strategy of renewal of its fleet with aircraft whose seating capacity will efficiently complement our narrow body fleet without compromising passenger comfort,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. “EMBRAER 190s’ range, efficiency and size are ideal to increase services on some highly frequented routes and to start new routes in Central Asia especially towards Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan as well as Southern Russia and Georgia,”
“It’s very gratifying for us to see Air Astana  continue to build its future fleet of E-Jets just one month after it started its EMBRAER 190 operations,” said Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, Embraer  President, Commercial Aviation. “The Central Asia markethas great growth potential andit’s a privilege to see Air Astana’s confidence in our E-Jets family as the aircraft of choice to develop their domestic and regional network.”

Air Astana’s new EMBRAER 190 jets will also join the Embraer’s Pool Flight Hour Program, which gives Air Astana quick access to spare parts from Embraer’s distribution and service centres, eliminating the need for the airline to invest in a large inventory of replacement items.