AIR ASTANA FIRST HALF PROFIT INCREASES BY 143%

18-Jul-2013

Air Astana posted a net profit of $11.89 million for the first half of 2013, an increase of 143% over the corresponding period for 2012. Airline revenue increased by 12% to $442.64 million on the back of a capacity increase of 13%. Passenger numbers increased by 11% to 1.698 million. The Kazakhstan-based carrier took delivery of its seventh Embraer E-190 regional jet and its twelfth Airbus 320 family aircraft and retired its remaining two Fokker 50s to leave the total fleet size at 26 aircraft.

The expanding route network saw new services launched from Almaty to Ho Chi Minh City (via Bangkok), Kiev and Kostanay, Astana to Kiev, Orenburg and Bishkek and Atyrau to Moscow.

Peter Foster, Air Astana President, stated that “the first half is generally the low season for us and this year is no exception. The results are nonetheless fair, driven by modest fuel savings and strong growth on routes to Istanbul, helped by the new code share with Turkish Airlines, and on the new routes to Kiev.”

The airline underwent its third IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and was awarded 4 Star status and Best Airline Central Asia and India for the second year running at the Skytrax Global Awards held at the Le Bourget airshow in June.