OREANDA-NEWS. February 12, 2013. Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s principal airline, grew its revenues by 16% to USD870 million and its capacity by 14% in 2012. The airline took delivery of 2 Airbus 321s, an Airbus 320 and 2 Embraer 190s, purchased for the first time in its history, and retired its entire fleet of Fokker 50s. The airline continued to be profitable and a net contributor of state taxes in spite of the difficult conditions in the airline industry as a whole caused by very high jet fuel prices, reported the press-centre of Air Astana.       

Peter Foster, Air Astana’s President, stated that “the full year proved better than expected after a difficult first half in which profit fell by more than 80%. In the second half, the strength of CIS markets, the strong performance of new services to China and Hong Kong, and non-fuel savings offset to some extent higher fuel prices, though margins have fallen.

We expect 2013 to be another mixed year with continued cost pressure, though at present markets remain stable. We will continue to grow in 2013 principally from the national capital of Astana. We will take delivery of 3 new Airbus 320 aircraft, 2 new Embraer 190s, and two new Boeing 767s. All of these aircraft will be purchased.”

During the year Air Astana was awarded 4 stars by service ratings agency Skytrax and voted Best Airline, Central Asia and India. It is the only airline in the CIS and Eastern Europe to have a Skytrax 4 star rating.