Air Astana launches new services to Russia, Central Asia and Turkey

Air Astana, the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is launching a series of new routes from Almaty, Astana and Aktau to destinations in Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkey during November and December

The new services from Almaty include St Petersberg in Russia (twice weekly from 2nd December), Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan (three times weekly from 21st November) and Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan (three times weekly from 2nd December). Twice weekly services from Astana, capital of Kazakhstan to Yekaterinburg in southern Russia will commence on 8th December. A new once a week service from Aktau in western Kazakhstan to Istanbul will commence on 28th November.

The three new services from Almaty represent another step in developing the city as a major regional hub. Existing regional services already operate from Almaty to Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Novosibirsk in southern Russia and Urumqui in western China.

A fleet of new generation Embraer E-190 airliners have been selected to specifically operate on Air Astana’s expanding Central Asia network, with the first of three leased aircraft scheduled for delivery in early 2011. Airbus A320 family aircraft operate these services in the interim.

“Air Astana continues to grow in strength and reputatioin as Central Asia's leading carrier, with these latest new services destined to prove popular with government, business and leisure travellers. More and more passengers will have the opportunity to conveniently connect to Air Astana's award winning long-haul services from Almaty to major cites in Asia, Europe and the Middle East,“ said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.