20 March 2008
On 17 March, unfavourable weather conditions at
Astana Airport affected the airline's scheduled flights causing a chain
delays to about 20 flights, and the cancellation of 10 others. The
affected routes included Almaty-Astana,
Almaty-Astana-Istanbul-Astana-Almaty, Astana-Atyrau-Aktau-Astana,
Astana-Aktobe-Astana, Astana-Kzylorda-Astana, Astana-Taraz-Astana,
Astana-Oskemen, Astana-Pavlodar-Astana, Astana-Kostanay-Astana, and
Astana-Zhezkazgan-Astana. Flights KC856 and KC981 were postponed until
the following day. Flights KC620 and KC642 landed at other airports.
Berdykhan Agmurov, Control Centre Manager, says: “The runway at Astana
Airport was originally closed for cleaning works from 16 March, 00.45
am, until 17 March, 06.45 am. On 17 March, they were prolonged until 2
pm however. The runway had been announced open to use and it was only
soon after the opening of the flight trip that the situation had
improved”.
Gulnara Satbayeva of Air Astana’s Airport Handling Services at Astana
Airport, says: “Duration of delays varied from two to fifteen hours.
After the first two hours, hot tea was provided to passengers. As far as
delays at night, passengers of delayed flights had been
immediately accommodated, at the company’s expenses. A total of
71 passengers were accommodated. After the 4 hours of delay, passengers
were provided with hot meals. Airline staff had kept informing
passengers of the reasons and circumstances of the delay and made it
less an unpleasant experience. A nursery was provided for those
travelling with children under the age of 7”.
Flights delays are an inconvenience not only to passengers but also to
the airline, due to additional financial costs. Air Astana shares and
understands the inconvenience such delays cause to its passengers and
therefore apologises for the current circumstances!
Air Astana is a full member of IATA and the only airline in Kazakhstan
certified for aircrafts maintenance to European EASA/Part 145
standards.
Air Astana JSC is a joint enterprise of the Kazakhstan State Holding
“Samruk” and British company "BAE Systems" with share-holdings of 51%
and 49% respectively.
Currently the Air Astana aircraft fleet consists of western aircrafts
such as Boeing B767-300, В757-200, Airbus А321, А320, and Fokker F50.
For additional information, please contact:
Air Astana
PR Department
Phone: + 7727 2584135, ext. 161
Email: Zhanna.Badaubayeva@airastana.com