Air Astana (Based out of Kazakhstan) is on the expansion path with the purchase of four Boeing 767-300ERs and three 787-8s.
The order, at a list value of US$1.3 billion will make it the largest order of aircarft in Kazakhstan’s civil aviation history.
For those who love winglets, tthe 767’s will have them installed from the outset, and will replace the existing leased Boeing 767’s operated by Air Astana. In addition, the leased Boeing 757’s the carrier operates will also be returned, leaving the 787’s for an expansion role.
On the current time scales, the 767’s will be delivered in 2013 and 2014, whilst the 787s in 2017 and 2019
Air Astana currently operates 10 of the Airbus A320 family (1 A319, 7 A320, 2 A321), with 5 Boeing 757’s, 2 Boeing 767’s, 3 Embraer E190’s and 6 Fokker 50’s, with a CIS/Europe/Asia route structure.
It’s always good to see an airline expand within its means and it looks like Air Astana is going about it slowly and progressively. In these turbulent fiscal times, that can’t be a bad thing.