15/5/0
Over the past 12 months, the company's performance has been marked by maximum operating profit, growing passenger traffic, expanding flight geography, service innovations and several prestigious awards in the aviation industry. Moreover, Air Astana became the first airline from Central Asia to join the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines in June 2014.
Air Astana reported the highest operating profit in its history last year at $97.7 million, representing a 35% increase over 2013. Passenger traffic grew 3% to 3.8 million people, while revenue was $932.9 million.
Currently, the airline's fleet consists of 30 aircraft: Boeing, Airbus and Embraer, and its route network includes 64 international and domestic destinations. In 2014, a flight from Astana to Bangkok was launched, flights from Almaty to Dubai resumed, and the frequency of flights from Astana to London increased. This year, a flight from Astana to Paris started, and at the beginning of June, flights from Astana to Seoul and Tbilisi will open. The expansion of the airline's route network also helps develop domestic tourism: now any foreign tourist arriving in the capital of Kazakhstan can rent a hostel in Astana and spend several unforgettable days here.
Air Astana introduced a new sleeper economy class on Boeing 757 aircraft operating flights from Astana to London, Frankfurt and Paris, as well as from Almaty to Hong Kong. The new class of service provides a higher level of comfort and allows passengers to lie flat by combining three economy seats. The sleeper economy cabin, which includes 12 seats on each flight, is completely separated from business and economy class. In addition, the airline introduced a new in-flight menu on all international and regional flights from April 2015.
Air Astana was named Airline Market Leader at the 41st annual Air Transport World Awards ceremony in Washington in February 2015, where ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker highly praised the company's creativity, drive for success and strong financial performance. Air Astana became the first carrier among CIS and Eastern European countries to receive the prestigious 4-star rating from international agency Skytrax in 2012 and the title of Best Airline in Central Asia and India. Both achievements were confirmed in 2013 and 2014. In March 2015 in Moscow, the airline won the 'CIS Business Leader' award for its contribution to the development of economic integration of CIS countries.
"Our company had another successful year, marked by continued profit growth and service innovations that strengthen the company's reputation as a safe, reliable, comfortable and high-quality air carrier," said Air Astana President Peter Foster. "Winning the Airline Market Leader category at the ATW awards is the highest achievement for each of the 4,000 employees and once again confirms Air Astana's high status as the leading airline in Central Asia."
As reported by the corporate communications department of Air Astana JSC, the airline is a joint venture between the National Welfare Fund of Kazakhstan Samruk-Kazyna and BAE Systems with respective stakes of 51% and 49%.