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Air Astana Travel/Flight Information
Cheap Flights on Air Astana. Book online Air Astana fares.
Air Astana is the national carrier of Kazakhstan and one of Central Asia's leading airlines.
The airline operates a wide and varied flight route which takes in such far-flung destinations such as Moscow, Dubai, Delhi and Beijing, as well as a comprehensive domestic flights service in Kazakhstan.
Air Astana also flies regularly from Kazakhstan to London's Heathrow Airport.
The airline is a full service, scheduled carrier which operates modern western aircraft and runs as a highly successful commercial operation but the history of airlines in the relatively new, young republic of Kazakhstan has not always been so straightforward.
Kazakhstan gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and since then has developed very quickly as a country, attracting a wide range of foreign investment and commercial activity.
However during the late 90s its official national airline was Air Kazakhstan, a carrier cobbled together from the Aeroflot aircraft left in the country when the Soviet Union broke up.
As the country developed rapidly, it quickly became clear that its national airline did not properly reflect the vibrant, successful character of the country Kazakhstan was becoming.
And so, in 2001, Air Astana was born, as a joint venture between the Kazakh government and the British aerospace company BAE systems.
Named after Kazakhstan's new capital city, Air Astana flew its maiden flight on 15th May 2002, carrying president Nursultan Nazarbayev from Almaty, the country's Soviet-era capital, to the fast-developing new metropolitan centre of Astana.
The flight away from the old and into the new was symbolic not just for the airline, but for the new Kazakhstan it represented – a country that had blossomed into a successful, outward-looking modern state in the space of just 11 years.
When Air Kazakhstan went bust and folded in 2004, the decision to make Air Astana the national flag carrier was as good as made.
Air Astana has continued its rapid growth and today operates services to many of the world's major centres from its twin hubs at Almaty International Airport and the new Astana Airport, designed by the legendary Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.
The airline currently operates a fleet of three Boeing 757-200 airplanes, three new generation Boeing 737-700/800 aircraft, one Airbus A320 and five Fokker 50 airplanes.
With an average fleet age of age of five years, these modern, comfortable craft ensure that Air Astana passengers are conveyed around the world in comfort and style.
The airline's staff showcase the best of the ancient traditions of Kazakh hospitality, while serving passengers with the latest in new cuisine as well as an array of drinks, including local beers and vodkas.
Air Astana's Boeing 757-200 airplanes are fitted with an in-flight entertainment system featuring the best new films, comedies and documentaries in Russian and English, as well as eight audio channels of music designed to cater for every taste.
The airline's business class passengers on one of these airplanes are provided with ergonomically designed leather covered reclining seats, complete with extending footrests.
On Air Astana's Boeing 737-800 and 700 aircraft, passengers can look forward to leather seating throughout the aircraft.
Fokker 50 airplanes used for domestic flights in Kazakhstan feature comfortable, two-abreast leather covered seats in its 50-seater cabin.
Air Astana continues to go from strength to strength and it recently won an e-commerce award for its website, which enables bookings in English, Russian and Kazakh.
Like the city it is named after, Air Astana is looking towards the future and has big plans for expansion.
It is hoping to grow its fleet to 34 aircraft by 2014 and operate a fleet of 63 aircraft by 2022.
Air Astana may be a young airline, but like the young country for which it proudly flies the flag, this has not stopped it from achieving big things - and will not hold it back in the future.
If you want the very cheapest airfares that Air Astana can offer, be sure to book through Major Travel.
Cheap Flights on Air Astana. Book online Air Astana fares.
Last updated: 21st August 2008
