New low-cost carrier to launch in central Asia
Kazakhstan-based Air Astana is to launch a low cost airline in the first half of next year to operate mostly domestic flights at fares which will be roughly half of those charged by the parent airline.
Operating a fleet of all-economy Airbus A320 aircraft, it will also expand onto regional international routes in the future, said the airline.
FlyArystan will initially operate with four aircraft, growing to a fleet of at least 15 by 2022, said the company.
It will operate from multiple bases in Kazakhstan, with routes and aircraft bases to be announced over the coming months.
The airline will be led by Tim Jordan, a British-Australian aviation consultant, currently based in New South Wales. Jordan was previously chief commercial officer for GoAir (India) and for Philippines-based Cebu Pacific Air. Prior to joining Cebu, he was head of commercial distribution for Virgin Blue Airlines in Australia.
Air Astana president and CEO Peter Foster said: "FlyArystan is the result of much serious thought and internal business planning, and comes as a result of a rapidly changinglocal and regional airline business environment.
"It will be good for the mid to long-term prospects of Air Astana, and we hope, very welcome to the Kazakhstan travelling public, who will be able to benefit from significantly cheaper airfares on domestic and regional routes."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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