AIR ASTANA DELIVERS FLAME TO OPENING CEREMONY OF WORLD WINTER UNIVERSIADE 2017 IN ALMATY

Wednesday 1st February 2017

Air Astana, the official carrier for the World Winter Universiade 2017, flew the official flame across 13 regions of Kazakhstan, before delivering it to the opening ceremony in Almaty on 29th January 2017.  Participating university students from all over Kazakhstan travelled throughout with the flame, which was contained in a Davy's miner's lamp on each flight, with all safety precautions taken and technical specialists onboard.

During the countdown to the opening ceremony, Air Astana transported the flame on flights to Astana, Karaganda, Ust'-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Atyrau, Uralsk, Aktobe, Aktau, Kyzylorda, Shymkent, Kokchetau, Petropavlovsk and Kostanay.

As part of the Official Carrier agreement, Air Astana provided discounted flights to athletes and members of the official delegations participating the World Winter Universiade 2017.  The airline also helped promote the event with information highlighted in the Tengri in-flight magazine and on the company website.

The Winter Universiade's program consists of 12 winter sports disciplines involving more than 2,000 athletes, with the event running from 29th January to 8th February 2017.

Editor's notes

Air Astana commenced scheduled flight operations on 15th May 2002 and currently operates a network of over 60 international and domestic routes from hubs in Almaty and Astana. Air Astana's fleet of 30 aircraft includes Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 757-200, Airbus A320 family and Embraer E-190 types.

The carrier will take delivery of 11 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including four A321 LR between 2016 - 2019 and three Boeing 787 in 2019.  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 at its World Airline Awards 2012 and was also named The Best Airline in Central Asia and India that year. Both achievements were repeated in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In February 2015, Air Astana received the prestigious Market Leader Award from influential industry publication, Air Transport World.

The EU lifted all operational restrictions on Air Astana in December 2015.

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