Asian Aviation Editor Matt Driskill is In Conversation with Peter Foster, CEO and president of Air Astana. He also oversees the low-cost carrier FlyArystan. Foster entered the airline industry immediately after graduating from Cambridge University in 1982 as a management trainee of John Swire and Sons (HK) Ltd, the owners of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. From 1982-1999 he served in a variety of management and senior management positions with Cathay in Hong Kong, Asia, Australia and Europe, and underwent business management training at INSEAD in France. Foster left Cathay Pacific Airways in 1999 to head up the rehabilitation team of Philippine Airlines Inc. He subsequently served as Chief Executive Officer of Royal Brunei Airlines from 2002 to 2005 prior to his appointment as President and CEO of Air Astana. In the 2015 UK New Year’s Honours List Peter Foster was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to British aviation in Kazakhstan. Air Astana was incorporated in late 2001 and its maiden flight was on the 15th May 2002. The inaugural was attended by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Sir Richard Evans, representing the two shareholders, the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and BAE Systems of the UK. These shareholders remain partners in the airline, with the government holding a 51 percent share through its Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, and BAE Systems holding 49 percent.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Matt Driskill at matt.driskill@asianaviation.com
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Head of Sales Kay Rolland at kay.rolland@asianaviation.com
