News
Air Astana cleared by EASA, Uzbekistan Airways eyes A320neo
December 18th 2015
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has removed Kazakhstan’s national carrier, Air Astana, from the European Union Air Safety List, its first upgrade since 2009. Read More » The carrier can now add schedules and increase frequency on existing services to the European Union.
The Astana-based carrier signed agreements with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) for seven A320neo Family aircraft, comprising two A320neos, an A321neo and four A321neo LRs in June. One A320neo is scheduled for delivery in spring 2016 with the remaining six aircraft to be delivered in 2018 and 2019.
The Kazakh carrier will use the aircraft on domestic destinations as well as to cities in China, India, Russia and the UAE. A replacement for the carrier's five B757-200s, the A321neo LR may also be deployed on longer-range routes, including Astana-Heathrow and Almaty-Suvarnabhumi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong.
In October, Air Astana followed up with a commitment for three A321neos and a single A320neo on lease from AerCap. “We have no doubt that the neo will prove an ideal intermediate range aircraft for us,” Air Astana said.
Flag carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, is eyeing the A320neo family to replace its ageing six B757s. An airline source, who spoke to Russia's Sputnik news on condition of anonymity, said the fleet renewal issue has become urgent, given that company policy stated passenger aircraft may not be in service for longer than 20 years. The Uzbek carrier operates ten A320ceos and will receive two B787-8s in June and August next year.
