Trouble at Air Astana
Air Astana is suffering badly from the current high fuel prices and is losing $500,000 a week, a large amount for a medium sized carrier. Kazakhstan is particularly hard hit by the current world economic problems and times are hard in Almaty. Property prices have plunged, credit has dried up and Air Astana passenger loads are dropping. Drastic measures are being taken and three senior managers and one Vice President have left the company in recent weeks, three fired and one jumped ship. More losses are expected shortly. Pilot recruitment has stopped and there is no work for the three new Airbus aircraft due to be delivered this year. Routes have been dropped and plans to upgrade routes from Fokker 50 to Airbus have been shelved. Currently the company is attempting to find work for the new aircraft or alternatively lease them out. Expansion plans have been put on hold also.
So good luck to all the expat crews in Almaty and Astana, I hope you come through okay, I know the good stories you were told before joining, just hope you don't find the job disappearing before your eyes!