Air Astana Passes Fifth IATA Operational Safety Audit Kazakh flag carrier repeats success of 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013

Monday 28th September 2015

Air Astana has successfully undergone the International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) for the fifth time. The airline first passed the audit in 2007 and then again in 2009, 2011 and 2013.

During the latest audit in May 2015, documentation and implementation of nearly 1,000 IOSA standards were verified on all aspects of the airline's activities. These included organization and management, flight operations, operational control and flight dispatch, engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground handling, cargo operation and security. The audit was undertaken by accredited IOSA audit organization "AQS". It must be noted that since its third edition, the IOSA Standards Manual incorporates elements of the ICAO SMS Framework.

"We are pleased to have yet again successfully completed IATA's Operational Safety Audit.", said Peter Foster, President and CEO of Air Astana.

The next audit is scheduled to 2017.

About Air Astana

Air Astana commenced regular flight operations on 15 May 2002 and currently operates a network of over 60 international and domestic routes from hubs in Almaty and Astana.  Air Astana operates a fleet of 30 aircraft including three Boeing 767-300ER,  five Boeing 757-200, thirteen Airbus A320 family aircraft and nine Embraer E-190. Air Astana became the first carrier from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (the CIS) and Eastern Europe to be awarded the prestigious 4-Star rating by Skytrax in its World Airline Awards 2012 and was named The Best Airline in Central Asia and India.   Both accolades were repeated in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In February 2015, Air Astana received the prestigious Air Transport World Market Leader Award.

Air Astana is a joint venture between Kazakhstan's national wealth fund, Samruk Kazyna, and BAE Systems, with respective shares of 51% and 49%.