Page 18 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE AIR ASTANA

factor along with the best access model for playing field, examples like Astana show
customers – but with a premium service, that you don’t have to be big, or have
not a low-cost carrier model for the final massive pockets (Air Astana has taken on
five hundred kilometres. “Our passengers no extra debt since its first flight in 2002)
can expect and get the highest levels of to be successful as a regional carrier.
service on-board,” adds Foster. “Last year went pretty well for us,” says
“This kind of “extended local” Foster. “Revenues grew 16% to US$870
approach puts us in a great position,” million and we are expecting a similar
says Foster. “Just looking at China – for performance in 2013. ” So far, passenger
us it’s a fantastic position to be in. That’s numbers are up 11% on last year to 1.7
why many of the major airline groupings million, and some 21 new regional routes
are chasing us at the moment to join. But have been recently established.
we are seriously considering what the So for the canny, prepared and well-
advantages are before we look at that.” connected (in all senses of the phrase)
Air Astana, it has to be noted, had airline, it would seem the future is looking
Richard Ledger, Sales Director,
Air Astana the luxury of a fresh start in 2001, and good. Just think back ten or fifteen years
a supportive government approach. – would any of the major national carriers
Without the right aircraft, ability have predicted the success of Etihad,
and most important of all – the right Emirates or Qatar? Being in the right
partners – regional airlines will find place with a sound vision has changed
it hard. Witness the recent implosion the industry; regional carriers are set to
of Brindabella Airlines in Australia. continue that trend.
Without new, economic aircraft and a
dossier full of productive agreements
and codeshares they simply withered on
the vine and collapsed.
And while some operators are busy
berating government policy and a biased
18 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM