OREANDA-NEWS. December 11, 2012. The first Airbus A321 aircraft purchased by Air Astana has arrived in Almaty in time to mark celebration of the First President. The aircraft is the first of six A320 family aircraft ordered during the visit to France by Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2008 and represents a major step in the development of the country’s civil aviation industry. It is the first contract for the purchase of brand new commercial aircraft in the history of Kazakhstan’s independence, reported the press-centre of Air Astana.

The total deal for six aircraft is worth more than USD 500 million at list prices, with financing independently undertaken by Air Astana without the need for government budget or guarantees. The financing supported by the Export Credit Agencies of Germany, France and UK has been arranged by Royal Bank of Scotland. The financing transaction has benefitted from the Aviation Protocol of the Cape Town treaty ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan following the Decree by the President, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

“The arrival of the first owned Airbus A321 at Air Astana is not only a major event for the airline, but also for the government of Kazakhstan. With the carrier having been launched with a capital of only USD 17 million in 2002, it is now a very proud day that the financial strength of the airline has grown to the point where we are embarking upon taking delivery of a new fleet of aircraft worth half a billion dollars. Air Astana has entered an exciting new phase of its development,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana JSC.

The new aircraft will carry out the flights on the existing international routes to Russia, Turkey, UAE, India, China and etc.