Kazakhstan’s largest airline, Air Astana, has reallocated its capacity from European routes to more profitable Asian destinations, CEO Peter Foster announced. The strategic shift, which took place during the third quarter of this year, follows a performance in Air Astana’s overall revenue growth.

In the first nine months of 2024, the airline’s revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) saw a 10% YoY increase, driven largely by a surge in demand on Asian routes. Meanwhile, European routes, including destinations like the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Montenegro, experienced a 12% decline in traffic.

Air Astana’s Asian routes saw growth, with RPKs climbing 51% for India, 29% for China, 26% for Thailand, 25% for the Middle East, and 10% for South Korea. Foster highlighted the standout performance in Middle Eastern traffic, especially with Saudi Arabia, driven by the introduction of direct flights to Jeddah and Medina from Shymkent and Almaty. These flights cater to pilgrims visiting the holy cities, capitalizing on increasing demand for religious tourism.

In addition to the Middle Eastern expansion, Air Astana also launched new routes to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Vietnam, and Thailand, diversifying its offerings to meet growing demand in the region.

Looking ahead, the airline plans to continue increasing its capacity. By the end of this year, its fleet is expected to grow to 56 aircraft, with further expansion to 62 aircraft by the close of 2025. This expansion will support Air Astana’s ongoing efforts to tap into the growing demand for air travel in Asia and the Middle East while adjusting to shifts in European market dynamics.

Air Astana Group is the leading airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus in terms of revenue and fleet size. The company offers a variety of air services, including scheduled, point-to-point, transit, short-haul, and long-haul flights, along with cargo services on domestic, regional, and international routes spanning Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Middle East, India, and Europe. 

Recognized by SkyTrax, Air Astana has been named the Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS twelve times and has won the Best Airline Staff Service award in the region eight years in a row. FlyArystan has also been recognized as the Best Low-Cost Carrier in Central Asia & CIS at the SkyTrax awards twice. Furthermore, Air Astana earned a five-star rating in the major airline category from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The company is publicly listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange.