backseatjock
28th Dec 2007, 11:50
Christmas presents all round for the manufacturers this year. Following shortly behind the BA 787 confirmations comes this from Air Astana, as reported by Interfax media agency.
Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s leading carrier, is placing firm orders for nine new liners, delivery of which will begin in 2012.
The airline has signed letters of intent with Airbus, Boeing and Rolls Royce to buy six Airbus-320 planes and three Boeing-787-8 liners with Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines, he said. In addition, Air Astana has options for another three Airbus-320s and Boeing-787-8s.
The firm orders and options have a total price-list value of $950 million and $736 million. The airline will arrange financing for the deal independently, without state guarantees or government funding.
This is the first time that Air Astana is placing an order to buy its own liners. The company has previously only leased.
Air Astana has a fleet of 18 liners, including four Boeing-757-200, five Fokker-50, five Airbus-320, two Airbus-321, and two wide-body Boeing-767-300ER. The company intends to expand its fleet to 34 planes by 2014, to 40 by 2016 and to 63 by 2022.
The state's 51% stake in Air Astana is managed by state holding Samruk, and Britain's BAE Systems owns the other 49%.
Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s leading carrier, is placing firm orders for nine new liners, delivery of which will begin in 2012.
The airline has signed letters of intent with Airbus, Boeing and Rolls Royce to buy six Airbus-320 planes and three Boeing-787-8 liners with Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines, he said. In addition, Air Astana has options for another three Airbus-320s and Boeing-787-8s.
The firm orders and options have a total price-list value of $950 million and $736 million. The airline will arrange financing for the deal independently, without state guarantees or government funding.
This is the first time that Air Astana is placing an order to buy its own liners. The company has previously only leased.
Air Astana has a fleet of 18 liners, including four Boeing-757-200, five Fokker-50, five Airbus-320, two Airbus-321, and two wide-body Boeing-767-300ER. The company intends to expand its fleet to 34 planes by 2014, to 40 by 2016 and to 63 by 2022.
The state's 51% stake in Air Astana is managed by state holding Samruk, and Britain's BAE Systems owns the other 49%.