Fuel costs are putting airlines under pressure again. In 2026, the global aviation industry could spend around $350 billion on fuel, while the issue is even more acute for Kazakhstan because of relatively high jet fuel prices. Air Astana is betting on data and artificial intelligence, targeting fuel-consumption savings of up to 2%, DKNews.kz reports.
This is according to a press release from the International Air Transport Association. IATA sees data analytics as the next major source of savings after fleet renewal and route-network optimization.
$350 billion on fuel, with margins at just 2%
Fuel could account for nearly one-third of global aviation operating costs in 2026. According to the latest IATA forecast, airline fuel spending may rise from roughly $252 billion in 2025 to $350 billion in 2026.
At the same time, the industry’s expected net profit margin could fall from 4.2% to 2%, while total net profit is projected to decline from about $45 billion to $23 billion.
In such conditions, airlines have limited room to offset higher costs simply by raising ticket prices. That makes even a few percentage points of fuel savings financially significant.
In an IATA survey conducted in March 2026, 90% of airlines named fuel efficiency as a priority. Among executives responsible for finance and procurement, the figure reached 96%.
Kazakhstan also faces the problem of jet fuel prices
For Kazakh airlines, there is an additional local factor.
The IATA press release states that jet fuel prices in Kazakhstan are higher than in comparable aviation hubs such as Dubai. This means airlines in Kazakhstan face higher fuel costs even when consuming the same volume.
Kazakhstan has also been taking steps to lower refuelling costs. Since the beginning of 2026, QMG-Aero has started direct into-plane fuel supply at the country’s airports, while the price for foreign carriers was reduced to no more than $1,000 per tonne.
But for an airline, the purchase price is only one part of the equation. The second is how much fuel an aircraft actually burns on a particular route.
IATA
Air Astana targets fuel savings of up to 2%
This is where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in aviation.
IATA cites Air Astana as one of the regional examples of using data to optimize fuel consumption. The press release refers to savings of up to 2%.
Air Astana’s corporate materials provide more detail on the project. The airline has reported implementing a comprehensive fuel-efficiency and aircraft-performance monitoring system based on individual aircraft models and AI-powered analytics. The system is designed to reduce fuel consumption by up to 2% across the route network.
In other words, this is not a guaranteed 2% saving on every flight, but a target effect from the tools being introduced.
Air Astana is also using other fuel-saving methods. According to the airline, its Fuel Tankering programme generated more than $6 million in savings over 12 months.
A new aircraft is no longer the only way to save fuel
For years, the clearest path to greater fuel efficiency was to replace older aircraft with newer ones.
Air Astana has followed that strategy as well. In 2025, the group took delivery of eight Airbus A320-family aircraft and retired three Embraer E2 jets. By the end of the year, its fleet consisted of 62 aircraft.
But there is a limit to how much can be saved through fleet renewal alone. Replacing aircraft requires significant investment and time, so carriers are increasingly looking for additional efficiencies inside each individual flight.
IATA Director of Flight and Operations Stuart Fox describes this as the next stage in the drive for efficiency.
IATA
“Since much of the efficiency available through fleet renewal or network changes has already been explored, the next gallon of fuel saved will increasingly come from better operational decisions based on data,” Stuart Fox said.
Algorithms can spot excess fuel left after landing
The practical value of big data in aviation is very specific.
IATA’s FEGA and FuelIS tools allow airlines to compare fuel consumption by aircraft type, route, airport and individual phase of flight.
For example, analytics can identify when one airline’s aircraft consistently land with more fuel remaining than comparable aircraft operated by other carriers on similar routes.
That does not mean fuel reserves should automatically be reduced: safety remains the overriding requirement. But a recurring difference can prompt airlines to review planning procedures, operational manuals and actual crew practices.
“Such benchmarking helps identify opportunities to improve fuel efficiency without compromising safety. These benefits can then be implemented through operating manuals and training programmes,” Fox explained.
Some fuel savings are beyond an airline’s control
Algorithms also have limits.
Fuel consumption depends on the routes assigned to aircraft, approach procedures and the way air traffic is managed. If an aircraft is forced to fly a longer trajectory, internal airline optimization cannot fully offset that additional consumption.
That is why IATA also links fuel savings to the modernization of air traffic management systems and the development of Performance-based Navigation, or PBN. Over the past six years, the association has implemented relevant projects in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
“One example is the use of more direct routes during approach, which can generate significant fuel savings,” Stuart Fox said.
For Kazakhstan, the issue is directly tied to the competitiveness of its aviation hub ambitions: airlines need efficient aircraft, affordable fuel, optimized routes and fewer unnecessary costs on every flight.
A few days ago, we wrote about how Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as an aviation hub in Eurasia. Fuel prices and the modernization of air navigation were already among the key factors shaping competition for international carriers.
Now data is increasingly becoming part of that equation as well. Air Astana’s target of up to 2% fuel savings may look modest on paper. But when the global aviation industry’s expected net margin for 2026 is also around 2%, every percentage point of operational efficiency carries much greater weight.
