Air Astana’s Full Year Boosted By Strong Second Half

[HD videos below] Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s principal airline, has reported an unaudited profit after tax for 2012 of US$57.2 million, a drop of 7% over 2011.

Total revenue increased by 16% to US$870 million against a capacity increase of 14%. The airline took delivery of two Airbus A321s, one Airbus A320 and two Embraer 190s, purchased via export credit finance leases, and retired its entire fleet of Fokker 50s.

Peter Foster, Air Astana’s President, said, “The full year proved much better than expected after a difficult first half in which profit fell by more than 80%. In the second half, strength of CIS markets, the strong performance of new services to China and Hong Kong, and non-fuel savings have made up most of the difference and offset to some extent higher fuel prices, though margins have fallen. We expect 2013 to be another mixed year with continued cost pressure, though at present markets remain stable.”

During the year, Air Astana was awarded 4 stars by service ratings agency Skytrax and voted Best Airline, Central Asia and India. It is the only airline in the CIS and Eastern Europe to have a 4-star rating.

Air Astana commenced regular flight operations in May 2002 and currently operates a network of more 50 international and domestic services from hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau. The airline is a full member of the International Air Transport Association, and was the first airline in Kazakhstan to achieve EASA Part 145 aircraft maintenance certification.

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