Airbus executives visited the IATA Annual General Meeting in Delhi to discuss key issues, trends, and developments affecting the global airline sector as well as the company’s priorities and emerging markets. Among those, Central Asia – and particularly Kazakhstan – stood out as a key focus.
We spoke to Airbus President of Region Europe Johan Pelissier, who oversees an expansive territory of 57 countries, stretching from Greenland to Turkey and encompassing the entire Caucasus and Central Asia. His role spans across commercial aviation, defence and space, and helicopter businesses – making him one of the top regional leaders at Airbus.
Mr. Pelissier has already visited Almaty, and plans to visit Astana soon. And one thing is clear: Airbus is here to stay in the region, and Kazakhstan holds a special place in that vision.
“Kazakhstan is one of our most important partners in Central Asia”
— What is Kazakhstan’s role in Airbus’s Eurasian strategy, and how do you assess the potential of its aviation market?
— Kazakhstan is without a doubt one of our most important partners in Central Asia. It’s the only country in the region where we already have a fully established office and operational footprint. Our helicopter support center in Astana plays a vital role, and we’re proud to say that over 60 Airbus helicopters are currently flying in Kazakhstan for civilian and rescue operations.
On the defence side, our collaboration began over 15 years ago with the C295, and more recently, in December 2024, we delivered the country’s first A400M – a new-generation strategic and tactical airlifter. These are long-standing and evolving partnerships.
@Air Astana
In commercial aviation, we have a close, nearly 20-year relationship with Air Astana. Next year marks two decades of our working together. Air Astana and FlyArystan continue to receive new A320 and A321 aircraft every year, and their current fleet exceeds 60 aircraft. They’re growing fast, and we are fully prepared to support that growth.
“We recently appointed a dedicated Airbus country lead in Kazakhstan”
— Is Airbus planning to expand its presence in Kazakhstan? Are there new areas of cooperation with airlines or the government?
— Absolutely. One of our key recent steps was appointing a dedicated Head of Country. As of January 1, Roman Blashishin has taken on this role. He previously led our defence and space division but is now responsible for all Airbus activities in Kazakhstan – commercial aircraft, helicopters, industrial partnerships, and government relations.
We are actively exploring opportunities to expand our helicopter support center, and we’re also in discussions around establishing MRO capabilities for the C295 and A400M. With Air Astana, we’re ensuring not just smooth aircraft deliveries but long-term training, support, and operational excellence for their A320 and A321 fleet.
“We’re very excited about Kazakhstan’s plans to become an international air hub”
— President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced plans to establish an international air hub in Kazakhstan. What role can Airbus play in that?
— We’re truly excited about this project. We believe Central Asia – and Kazakhstan in particular – can become a strategic bridge between China and Europe, especially for cargo operations.
Airbus is very active in the freighter space. We offer passenger-to-freighter conversions for the A320 and A330 families, and we’ve launched the A350 Freighter, with the first deliveries expected in the second half of 2027. We would be happy to support this vision by providing the right aircraft solutions to future freight operators in Kazakhstan.
“Our cooperation spans everything – from helicopters to satellites”
— How do you assess 20 years of Airbus – Kazakhstan cooperation?
— It’s a deep and wide-ranging partnership across all Airbus business units. In defence, we have the C295 and the A400M. In helicopters, we have Airbus Helicopters Kazakhstan Engineering (AHKE). And of course, we’ve had a strong and steady presence in commercial aviation for nearly two decades.
@Airbus Helicopters
Let’s not forget our work in space. Through partnerships with Kazakh entities, we’ve delivered Earth observation and telecommunications programs.
So, across defence, space, helicopters, and commercial aircraft, Kazakhstan is a fully engaged partner – and we’re ready to take it even further with our latest technologies and services.
“Kazakhstan is our natural hub for Central Asia”
— Could Central Asia become a site for Airbus service centers or even production in the future?
— Kazakhstan already plays that role, especially in helicopters. Our certified support center in Astana is the only one of its kind in Central Asia. It doesn’t just serve Kazakhstan – it’s also used by neighboring countries like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Delegations from these countries have visited the center to see our operations first-hand.
@Airbus
We want to build on that experience and replicate it in the defence domain as well. Right now, we’re focused on ensuring smooth entry-into-service for the C295 and A400M platforms. But as Kazakhstan looks to expand its fleet, we’re ready to scale up MRO capabilities too.
“Kazakhstan was the first to open the door for Airbus in the region”
— What makes Kazakhstan stand out compared to other Central Asian countries?
— Kazakhstan was the first. The first country to establish civil aviation cooperation with us, the first to host an Airbus office, and the first to build institutional trust. That early partnership laid a solid foundation, and it continues to grow.
Thanks to your geographical position, vision, and openness to partnership, Kazakhstan became our launchpad into Central Asia. That’s why we’re here today – and why we want to do even more in the future.
“Yes, I ran in Almaty – and it was beautiful”
— You mentioned plans to visit Kazakhstan. We’ve heard you participate in ultra-marathons. Any plans to run in the mountains or steppes of Kazakhstan?
— I love that question. Yes, I’m passionate about ultra-trail running. I started racing in Asia and the Middle East, but I haven’t run in Central Asia yet. Kazakhstan looks like an amazing place to do so.
@Visit Almaty/Pexels
I did go for a run in Almaty – along the river, starting from my hotel. The scenery changed so quickly and became stunning. I definitely want to come back, explore more of Almaty, and finally make my way to Astana, which is high on my list.
If I can combine a business trip with a beautiful trail run, that would be perfect.
The Future of Aviation: SAF, Hydrogen, and Innovation
During our conversation with Mr. Pelissier, we also touched on key global topics – decarbonization and technological challenges.
- About near-term technology trends: Airbus is deeply invested in sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). All our aircraft are currently certified to operate on a 50% SAF blend, and we aim for 100% SAF compatibility by 2030. We’re also modernizing global fleets with next-gen aircraft like the A220, A320neo, and A350, all of which offer lower fuel burn and emissions.
- About hydrogen-powered flight: Hydrogen is central to our long-term decarbonization roadmap. We’ve unveiled new hydrogen aircraft concepts, with a strong focus on fuel cell technology. While we initially targeted 2035 for entry into service, the timing depends on progress in hydrogen production, infrastructure, storage, and regulations. We are fully committed to overcoming these challenges.
- About global trade and supply chains: Airbus continues to promote tariff-free trade and advocates for the principles of the 1979 agreement that kept aerospace free from trade barriers. While it’s still early to measure specific impacts of geopolitical tensions, we are actively managing risk and ensuring on-time deliveries to customers worldwide.
Airbus invests in Kazakhstan’s aviation talent and innovation ecosystem
And finally – education, youth and investments in the future.
Airbus is not just a technology provider – it’s a long-term investor in people and education. We’ve supported Kazakh engineers and managers with training in France and the UK as part of space programs. Many of them now work in the country’s aerospace institutions.
Gov
Our AHKE joint venture offers certified type ratings for helicopter technicians and runs a two-year program for civil aviation academy graduates. We also support young talent through events like Mechaton 2025 at Nazarbayev University, offering challenges and internship opportunities.
We’re currently assessing how we can support ab initio training for future helicopter pilots right here in Kazakhstan.
Airbus is not just delivering aircraft – it’s building the future of aviation in Kazakhstan, with people, knowledge, and innovation at the heart of the mission.
And maybe, next time the regional head of Airbus visits Astana, he won’t just sign new agreements he might lace up his shoes and run through the Kazakh steppes. Either way, we’ll be ready to welcome him.
