Air Astana Awards A J Walter Aviation Two Contracts for A320 Family and B757/767 PBH Support

June 20, 2011
Air Astana has awarded a multi-year power-by-the-hour contract for its growing fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft to A J Walter Aviation.

London, June 2011: Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, has awarded a multi-year power-by-the-hour contract for its growing fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft to world leading component support specialist A J Walter Aviation. At the same time Air Astana has also extended its B757/767 PBH support agreement with AJW.

Air Astana is based in Almaty, Kazakhstan – one of the world’s fastest growing economies – and currently operates a total fleet of 24 aircraft with plans to extend this to 34 aircraft by 2014. The airline was incorporated in 2001 and since then has enjoyed a dramatic and successful growth programme, now serving nearly 50 domestic and international destinations. It is the only airline in Kazakhstan to maintain its fleet to audited EU EASA 145 standards and in 2008 Air Astana was admitted to the register of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) – one of the few airlines in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to have achieved this.

“We are extremely proud to be working with such a successful and respected airline as Air Astana. We have been supporting the Boeing aircraft for a number of years and we are especially pleased to have now been chosen to support the A320 fleet as well.” says Boris Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of AJW. “Our low cost base, world class logistics and a flexible commercial approach makes us the ideal partner to support this extensive and growing route network.”

Peter Foster, President of Air Astana, underlines the continuing success of the airline. “The next decade will see us opening up to 14 new domestic and 31 new additional routes. We will also be introducing new high technology aircraft, namely the B787 and E190, and up to 500 new pilots to help service this growing demand for flights.” He added “We have been very pleased with AJW services to date and we look forward to a further period of exemplary support to ensure Air Astana remains the airline of choice for those wishing to fly in and out of Kazakhstan.”

This new contract once again underlines the benefits of PBH, pooling and leasing options available from AJW. Already highly regarded for its award-winning 24/7 AOG and critical component services, AJW is also currently growing its integrated consumables management and aircraft engine services business. Serving a global customer base of more than 700 airlines with over 375 aircraft under contract AJW is fast becoming the partner of choice to offer fully integrated support solutions to airline and MRO organisations seeking competitive advantage.