AIR ASTANA INTRODUCES 2018 SUMMER SCHEDULE: Expanded schedule features widespread increase in service frequencies and new routes

Wednesday 21st March 2018

Air Astana introduces an expanded 2018 Summer schedule on 25th March 2018, which features widespread increases in service frequencies across the network from both Astana and Almaty, together with a number of new routes.

In addition to the bolstered service between London Heathrow and Astana, which goes daily commencing June 1st, the new schedule sees weekly frequencies increase from Astana to Beijing (5), Bishkek (5), Delhi (4), Kiev (7), Moscow (12), Omsk (7), St Petersburg (9), Tbilisi (4) and Urumqui (7), whilst weekly frequencies from Almaty increase to Baku (4), Bishkek (9), Beijing (7),Dushanbe (5),Hong Kong (3),Kiev (9), Moscow (16), St Petersburg (10) and Tbilisi (7).

Further enhancements include a new twice weekly service from Atyrau to Frankfurt which launches on 26th March and new services from Astana to Tyumen (3) and Kazan (1) in Russia which will commence in early June. The service frequency to Kazan will increase to three times a week in September.

The Summer schedule will see Air Astana serving 30 cities in 21 countries, including 13 cities in five CIS countries, Georgia and Ukraine; Moscow, St Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Omsk and Tyumen in Russia, Baku in Azerbaijan, Dushanbe in Tajikistan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Tashkent in  Uzbekistan, Tbilisi in Georgia and Kiev in Ukraine. The domestic network covers 12 cities Kazakhstan including Almaty, Astana, Aktau, Atyrau, Aktobe, Uralsk, Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Kostanay and Karaganda.

In addition to the continuing growth in frequencies and new services this summer, Air Astana passengers can also benefit from an increasing number of codeshare agreements, with the most recent one being signed with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways in March 2018.  Codeshare agreements are also in place with carriers including Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, Hong Kong Airlines, Air India, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines. Air Astana has 25 interline agreements with various airlines.

These agreements allow Air Astana passengers to access a global route network through its partners, more flexible selection of flights and connections, as well as tariffs, to more than 400 cities.

About Air Astana

Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, operates flights to over 60 domestic and international routes from hubs in Astana and Almaty. The company was incorporated in late 2001 and commenced operations on 15 May 2002. The Air Astana fleet consists of Boeing 767, 757, Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo and Embraer 190 aircraft.

Air Astana became the first carrier from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe to be awarded a 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, 2016 and 2017.

www.airastana.com