AIR ASTANA, probably the most successful of the new airlines created in recent years across the former Soviet Republics, will lose its leader at the end of the month.
Lloyd Paxton, who launched the Kazakhstan national carrier in May 2002 is handing over the leadership to Peter Foster, previously CEO of Royal Brunei (and before that with Qatar and for many years Cathay Pacific).
Lloyd, an industry veteran totalling 35 years experience with BOAC and British Airways, held the position of president of Air Asana, a unique airline in many ways, established by the government of Kazakhstan (51% ownership) with BAE Systems (49%), who very wisely left the running of the operation to experienced airline people.
A modern fleet of three ”new generation” Boeing 737 and two Boeing 757 (plus five Fokker 50 for short haul domestic services) has enabled the airline to operate to western standards and be profitable ($11.5m in the last financial year) competing with some of Europe”s majors on certain routes.
More 757s are in the pipeline and the airline is known to favour the Boeing 787 for future expansion.
Mr Paxton says that he is going to take a holiday,
”Starting an airline from scratch and making it work is an all consuming task,” he said. ”I leave behind a carrier with a terrific work force and an assured future.”
http://www.air-astana.kz