Green Light for Air Astana to Expand European Services

Air Astana is now free to increase frequencies on existing European routes and also to plan for new destinations following the lifting of restrictions previously imposed by the European Union.

According to the EU’s Air Safety Committee, Air Astana has proved that it has safety systems and procedures fully consistent with international standards and is therefore released from the frequency restrictions imposed upon it by the ASC in July 2009, following the failure of the Kazakhstan Civil Aviation Committee to pass an ICAO audit in April of that year.

According to the European Commissions, “all other Kazakh airlines remain banned from Europe until the Kazakh authorities have implemented a sustainable system to effectively oversee the safety of these carriers.”

Peter Foster, Air Astana President, said, “We are delighted by the EU Air Safety Committee’s decision, which reflects the enormous amount of hard work that Air Astana staff have put into ensuring that flights are operated safely and in accordance with best international practices. The airline can now plan for more flights to Europe, with Paris and Prague both new destination priorities for launch in late 2014 / early 2015.”

Air Astana currently operates services from Almaty and Astana to London three times a week, Astana to Frankfurt daily, and Atyrau to Amsterdam six times per week.

The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 757-200, Airbus A320 family aircraft and Embraer E-190. It is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund Samruk Kazyna and BAE Systems, with respective shares of 51% and 49%