Kazakh Air Carrier To Buy New Planes For Over $1 Billion

Astana Air President Peter Foster

Kazakhstan's leading carrier, Air Astana, says it has placed orders for 15 new planes worth more than $1 billion.

The carrier currently has a fleet of 26 aircraft.

Air Astana President Peter Foster, speaking at Kazakhstan's Transport and Communications Ministry on February 1, said the company has ordered six A320 single-aisle aircraft from European-based Airbus, four U.S. Boeing 767 wide-body planes, and three Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, as well as two Brazilian Embraer 190 regional jets.

According to Foster, the purchase will be financed by Air Astana's own funds.

No further details were given.

Air Astana, 51 percent owned by Kazakhstan's Samruk-Qazyna National Wealth Fund and 49 percent by Britain's BAE Systems, currently serves 80 percent of Kazakhstan's domestic and international routes.

Compiled from agency reports