The award-winning Kazakh flag carrier Air Astana is celebrating the 20th anniversary of operating Airbus aircraft. The first Airbus A320 was delivered in February 2006, and since then the fleet has grown significantly, reaching approximately 60 aircraft today. As part of its long-term commitment to maintaining a modern, efficient, and passenger-focused fleet, Air Astana’s shareholders have recently approved the purchase of an additional 25 Airbus A320 family aircraft.
Air Astana placed its first direct Airbus aircraft order in 2008, with the new fleet delivered in 2012/13. This marked the first direct Airbus order placed by a Kazakhstan-based airline since the country gained independence in 1991.
In November 2016, Air Astana introduced its first Airbus A320neo into service, becoming one of the first airlines in the world to transition to a new-generation aircraft offering improved fuel efficiency and enhanced environmental performance.
In September 2019, the Air Astana fleet expanded further with the entry into service of its first Airbus A321LR. This development supported network growth and increased the airline’s capacity to operate long-haul flights with narrow-body aircraft. Air Astana’s A321LR aircraft operate on the Almaty–London route, one of the world’s longest non-stop narrow-body routes, with a flight time of approximately nine hours.
Today, the Air Astana Group’s fleet consists predominantly of Airbus aircraft, with 41 A320/A321neo family aircraft and 18 A320/A321ceo aircraft, totalling 59 aircraft.
