For a fortnight now, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Air Astana has been flying from Paris CDG terminal 1 to the Kazakh capital in just over seven hours. "This direct service is a very fine page in the relations between our two countries and strengthens the strategic partnership signed in 2008," points out Jean Galiev, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in France. "It will help to diversify and intensify trade. Especially as, since July 2014 and for a period of one year, French citizens, like those from nine other countries, no longer need a visa for stays of less than 15 days. This measure is likely to be renewed after next July". This flight, operated by Boeing B757, offers three classes: Business, with a 170° reclining seat, Economy and Economy Sleeper. This new offer gives passengers the chance to take advantage of three seats in the Economy cabin that can be converted into a single bed with mattress and duvet. This service also gives access to the Business lounge in terminal 1 at Roissy. "This service is our most important development since the launch of the routes to Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh," explains Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.
With a fleet of 30 aircraft, the average age of which is six years, Paris is the airline's fourth destination in Europe after Frankfurt (one daily flight), Amsterdam (six flights a week) and London (three flights a week). For the time being, we have no plans to open other routes to this continent," notes Peter Foster. Our main aim is to increase frequencies to Paris and London, in the hope of making them daily".
Air Astana, whose slogan is "the heart of Eurasia", has positioned itself as the key carrier in this region of the world. From Astana, its network offers connections to most of the capitals of Central Asia - Tashkent, Baku, Bishkek, Dushanbe - as well as to southern Russia - Omsk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Ekaterinenburg - and to eastern China. "Air Astana is the only international airline to land in Urumqi, a Chinese city that is undergoing major economic development.
The organisation of the 2017 World Expo in Astana will provide the airline with an opportunity to pursue its expansion strategy. Especially as the city's airport, which is on the verge of overcapacity, is to be equipped with a new terminal, doubling its capacity to more than 7 million passengers. As part of this project, Air Astana is expecting to take delivery of new aircraft, in particular Boeing B 787 Dreamliners. Three are expected and nine others are optional. With their range, these aircraft will make it possible to open a direct route to New York, probably in 2019.
At that point, the question of joining a major alliance will arise. "If today we have a virtually unique offer to Central Asia which does not require an alliance, then a partnership will become necessary to open up the American market", explains Peter Foster, who admits to being in discussion with Air France-KLM and SkyTeam, but also with Star Alliance.
