Air Astana launches new services from Astana to Korea and Georgia

Air Astana, the award winning Kazakh flag carrier, is launching new services from Astana to Seoul, South Korea and Tbilisi, Georgia.

The service between the capital cities of Kazakhstan and South Korea is operated by Boeing 767-300ER (30 Business class /193 Economy class seating configuration) once a week and compliments the existing three times a week service from Almaty to Seoul. The new flight is operated on a codeshare basis with Asiana Airlines. In May 2015 the companies also signed an agreement on a joint program for frequent flyers. More than 250,000 passengers have travelled on Air Astana flights to Seoul since services commenced in 2003.

The new service from Astana to Tbilisi is operated by Embraer E190 (9 Business class/88 Economy class seating configuration) twice a week and is additional to the current five times a week service from Almaty to Tbilisi now offering a daily product between Kazakhstan and Georgia. More than 120,000 passengers have travelled on Air Astana flights to Tbilisi since services commenced in 2011.

“The new services from Astana to Seoul and Tbilisi mark another significant step in building the network of international flights from Kazakhstan’s capital, which fully meets the "Nurly Jol" policy proposed by Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. “I’m confident that the new services will be prove to be popular with business/financial executives and tourists."

Air Astana commenced regular flight operations on 15 May 2002 and currently operates a network of 64 routes between 39 international and domestic destinations. Air Astana operates a fleet of 30 Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 757-200, Airbus A320 family aircraft and Embraer E-190. Air Astana became the first carrier from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe to be awarded the prestigious 4-Star rating by Skytrax in its World Airline Awards 2012 and was named The Best Airline in Central Asia and India. Both accolades were repeated in 2013 and 2014. In February 2015, Air Astana received the prestigious Air Transport World Market Leader Award.

Air Astana is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund, Samruk Kazyna, and BAE Systems, with respective shares of 51% and 49%.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia