The Kasakstan national carrier, Air Astana, with its base in Almaty seems to be heading along the right road.
Recent information released from the head office show that they managed to increase their 2015 first half year operating profit by 115 percent to a total of US$23.9 million.
The net profit in the same period came to US$8.3 million which compared to a loss of US$36.4 million in the same period 2014, was a tremendous turnaround for the airline.
The 2014 loss was attributed in part to a registered book loss after local currency devaluation.
Passengers flown increased by 4 percent although total revenue for the first half year was down 9 percent on 2014.
Management is optimistic
Air Astan President & CEO, Peter Forster stated “that whilst regional markets remain sluggish due to currency weakness and falling commodity prices, cheaper fuel and other cost saving
measures have combined to produce a fair result.“
The carrier added Paris, Seoul, Bangkok and Tbilisi to their international routes, thereby giving their cargo product also a wider international scope.
Air Astana operates to a total of 64 international and domestic destinations with their fleet of 30 jet aircraft.
The flagship Boeing 767-300ER, of which the carrier now has three aircraft allow them to expand international cargo sales somewhat further.
Five B757 passenger aircraft also operate on some of the international routes, although their belly cargo capacity is much more restricted.
Inner regional cargo transit is partly taken care of by Air Astana‘s fleet of 13 Airbus A320 and 9 Embraer 190 aircraft.
John Mc Donagh
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