Air Astana Expands Fleet with 25 Airbus A320neo Aircraft

‍ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s national airline, Air Astana (KC), has placed an order for 25 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The order comprises five A320neo and 20 A321neo aircraft.

“Air Astana’s large order for a new fleet of Airbus A320neo Family aircraft reflects a commitment to maintaining its reputation for operational efficiency and service excellence in the long term,” said Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana.

The carrier says the aircraft will be deployed by both Air Astana (KC) and its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan (FS). According to planespotters.net, Air Astana (KC) operates a fleet of 31 A320 family aircraft, while the low-cost carrier FlyArystan (FS) has an all-Airbus fleet consisting of 28 Airbus A320 family aircraft. 

The addition of these aircraft will allow the airline group to increase frequencies on popular routes, open new destinations across Central Asia and Europe, and support growing passenger demand.

Pratt & Whitney GTF engine challenges

Air Astana Group’s A320neo aircraft are powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, which have faced reliability issues in the past. These problems have led airlines worldwide, including KC, to temporarily ground some aircraft while Pratt & Whitney implemented fixes and upgrades. 

Air Astana’s further order of A320neo-family aircraft underscores the airline’s continued commitment to this fleet type. It also signals the airline group’s confidence in the GTF powerplant and its ability to support reliable operations across a growing network.