Air Astana eyes partner in Japan

Japanese golfers could be teeing off in Almaty

By Neelam Mathews / December 15, 2014

With business to Asian destinations like Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh and Seoul collecting good yields, Kazakhstan’s largest carrier, Air Astana, is looking at servicing Tokyo from Almaty in 2016, the airline's president Peter Foster told Travel Weekly.

Peter Foster, president Air Astana

“We are in talks with the two main carriers (ANA and JAL) to enter into partnership with one of them. Japan is a different market. We joined the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) recently to give us exposure to that market,” Foster said.

 

“We are in talks with the two main carriers (ANA and JAL) to enter into partnership with one of them. Japan is a different market. We joined the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) recently to give us exposure to that market,” Foster said.

"Almaty would be of interest to the Japanese market. They can also play a game of golf there,” Foster added.

Presently, outbound tourism from Kazakhstan is restricted following the devaluation of the Russian ruble and its own currency.  Foster expects this to change.  

“Kazakhstan is not Russia. In Russia what will happen, will happen. Already, Kazakhstan is liberalising its economy. We saw the Visa Waiver programme for 10 countries that is designed to make travel more easy.”
Air Astana has also signed a joint venture with Etihad Airways, but has no plans to enter into an equity arrangement, Foster said.