Air Astana Group announced that TAP Air Portugal CFO Gonçalo Pires has been appointed Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2026.
Kazakhstan’s flag carrier airline Air Astana JSC announced a senior executive appointment within the Air Astana Group, which operates together with its subsidiary FlyArystan. Accordingly, Gonçalo Pires will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as of March 1, 2026.
Planned Transition Process
As previously announced on October 8, 2025, the current CFO İbrahim Canlıel will be appointed CEO effective April 1, 2026. In this context, a structured transition process will be carried out between the two executives following Gonçalo Pires’ assumption of the role.
Gonçalo Pires’ Career Background
Gonçalo Pires has served as CFO of TAP Air Portugal since 2021. During this period, he:
- Designed and implemented the airline’s restructuring plan,
- Managed the financial transformation process,
- Led a number of digitalization and efficiency projects.
Before his aviation career, Pires held senior roles in investment banking, gaining approximately 20 years of experience in finance.
Education and Duty Location
Gonçalo Pires holds a degree in Economics from NOVA University in Lisbon. He will carry out his new role in Almaty, where Air Astana’s headquarters are located.
Statement from CEO Peter Foster
Air Astana CEO Peter Foster made the following remarks regarding the appointment:
“The experience Gonçalo gained as CFO of Portugal’s flag carrier airline makes him exceptionally well positioned to support Air Astana’s development and evaluate growth opportunities in our markets. Together with İbrahim Canlıel, who will assume the CEO role in April after serving eight years as CFO, I believe Air Astana’s long-term growth strategy will continue to be successfully implemented.”
