Air Astana has recorded strong first half results, with double-digit growth in both passenger traffic and revenue.
Overall passenger numbers are up 10 per cent on the first half of 2017 at the Kazakhstan national carrier, with international traffic alone up 22 per cent year on year.
Between January and June 2018, Air Astana carried more than two million passengers.
Meanwhile, international transit traffic grew a staggering 75 per cent to 320,000, accounting for 30 per cent of the airline’s overall transit figures – up 21 per cent from the previous year.
The introduction of new flights from Astana to Tyumen and Kazan, additional frequencies to London, Omsk, Dubai and Delhi from Astana, and from Almaty to Dushanbe, Hong Kong, Seoul and Bishkek helped bolster capacity by 8 per cent.
In March, Air Astana formed a codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific, offering passengers connections to and from Asia and Australia via Hong Kong. It has also signed an interline agreement with Lufthansa to connect Ireland with Kazakhstan.
Overall revenue at Air Astana grew 17 per cent year on year at a time when the airline is in the midst of a fleet renewal programme that has seen the delivery of three new A321neo aircraft.
Peter Foster, president and CEO of Air Astana, commented: “Passenger numbers continue to be strong for international traffic and network business. Domestic and regional routes face tough pricing and cost headwins.”
airastana.com