British Airways is dropping its thrice-weekly services to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s second city, which it took over from British Midland in October 2012.
British Airways is dropping its thrice-weekly services to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s second city, which it took over from British Midland in October 2012.
Air Astana, the state airline with a 49% BAe Systems holding, currently serves the capital Astana three times a week non-stop from London Heathrow. The Boeing 757 service includes a new Sleeper Seat Economy service.
The airline runs up to 10 flights daily on the one-hour service from Astana to Almaty.
Air Astana increased its operating profit by 115% to US$23.9 million in the first half of 2015. Net profit was US$8.3 million, versus a loss of US$36.4 in the first half of 2014 (the result of a book loss following a local currency devaluation), whilst passenger numbers increased by 4% to 1.82 million. Total revenue was lower by 9%.
Air Astana president and CEO Peter Foster said, “Whilst regional markets remain sluggish due to currency weakness and falling commodity prices, cheaper fuel and other cost-saving measures have combined to produce a fair result.
“We continue to expand and have recently added routes from Astana to Paris, Seoul, Bangkok and Tbilisi. We do not expect 2015 to be a stellar year, however our low unit cost and expanded network will allow us to take full advantage of market recovery when it comes.”