Air Astana has announced that CEO Peter Foster will be stepping down from his post in 2026. The company issued a statement saying that “Foster will retire from the position of Chief Executive Officer and from the Board of Directors of Air Astana JSC at the end of March 2026. Mr Foster will remain connected to the Group in the role of Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors”. Ibrahim Canliel, Chief Financial Officer, is to be appointed Chief Executive Officer at that time.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Nurlan Zhakupov said: “The Board of Directors would like to thank Peter Foster for his outstanding achievement in guiding the company for 20 years, from its post start-up phase to its position today as Kazakhstan and Central Asia’s leading airline, and a respected airline brand throughout the global aviation industry. The Board would like to welcome Ibrahim Canliel to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Canliel has worked for the Air Astana Group since 2003, initially in senior commercial roles and subsequently as Chief Financial Officer, a post he has held since 2017. His contribution has been immense and he brings with him great experience of both the Group and of the airline industry. The Board has the fullest confidence that he will guide the company to continued growth and success.”
Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The group operates a fleet of 61 aircraft split between Air Astana, its full-service airline that operated its inaugural flight in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019.
The group provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Gulf, India and Europe. Air Astana has been recognised by SkyTrax as the Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS fourteen years running and received the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & CIS award nine times in a row. FlyArystan has been recognised as the Best Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) in Central Asia & CIS at the SkyTrax awards three times.
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