Air Astana will resume flights from Almaty to Beijing on 22 November 2022, with the service initially operated once a week using Airbus A321LR aircraft. The airline currently serves the China market with twice weekly services from Almaty to Chengdu. The resumed service will depart from Almaty at 01.35 and arrive in Beijing at 08.30, with the return flight from Beijing at 11.30 and arrival in Almaty at 14.45. All times local. Air Astana first launched flights to Beijing in 2002, but suspended the service in March 2020 due to the global health pandemic. During this 18-year period, more than 1.1 million passengers were carried on the route.
Air Astana announces Dreamliner deal
Air Astana has signed an agreement with Air Lease Corporation for the long-term lease of three new wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The leased aircraft are scheduled to begin arriving from the first half of 2025. Peter Foster, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Astana, said “The Boeing 787-9 is an important aircraft to Air Astana’s fleet modernisation as we expand our routes and focus on passenger experience. The Dreamliner offers fuel-efficiency and range flexibility that will greatly add to our growing fleet operations.”
Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation, added: “We are pleased to announce this lease placement for three new Boeing 787-9 aircraft with Air Astana today. These aircraft will greatly enhance Air Astana’s long-range network capabilities and passenger comfort as the airline expands international routes from Kazakhstan.”
The Air Astana Group successfully continues upgrading its fleet. Currently, the Group’s fleet consists of 40 aircraft with an average age of 5.2 years. Since the beginning of the year, Air Astana has added two brand new A321LRs to its fleet with one more expected to be delivered in the coming months. Air Astana’s LCC subsidiary, FlyArystan, has also added two Airbus aircraft to its fleet with two more expected to be added by the end of the year.
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