Air Astana orders four 767-300ERS and three 787s; 787s to enable service to US, Australasia & Africa

Air Astana announced (04-Feb-2012) it has agreed to purchase four Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and three 787-8s, an order worth USD1.3 billion at list prices and the largest ever in Kazakhstan's civil aviation history. The 767s will be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and the 787s in 2017 and 2019. The 767s will replace two currently leased 767s and progressively replace its leased 757s while the 787s will "enable the airline to operate routes to the United States, Australasia and Africa, as its business plans develops". Air Astana chairman Nurzhan Baidauletov stated the carrier would not require state or shareholder funds for the purchases, but "will fund the new aircraft through a combination of its own cash and financial instruments through the air finance market." Air Astana, a JV between Samruk Kazyna (51%) and BAE Systems PLC (49%), will mark 10 years of operations in May-2012. [more - original PR]