FlyArystan has secured its fourth consecutive Skytrax title. Kazakhstan’s low-cost carrier was named Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS at the 2026 World Airline Awards, extending a winning streak that began in 2023, DKNews.kz reports.
The award was presented on September 18 at the Langham Hotel in London. The recognition comes as FlyArystan combines its low-cost model with stronger operational performance, including an 84% on-time performance rate during summer 2026.
Fourth Skytrax title in four years
FlyArystan first received the regional Skytrax award in 2023. It retained the title in 2024 and 2025 before winning again in 2026.
Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said the fourth consecutive award reflected the airline’s reputation among passengers and the development of its service.
«We congratulate FlyArystan on the fabulous achievement of being named the Best Low Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS for 2026. This award for the fourth consecutive year is a clear testament to the airline’s growing reputation with customers, and how well its service experience continues to develop, and the management and staff of FlyArystan should be very proud.»
The World Airline Awards are based on a passenger satisfaction survey. For the 2026 awards, the online survey ran from September 2025 to August 2026, with respondents from more than 100 countries assessing service provided by more than 300 airlines.
Skytrax says it funds the survey and awards process itself and does not charge airlines registration fees or fees for using the awards.
FlyArystan: people make the difference
Johan Eidhagen, President and Chief Executive Officer of FlyArystan, attributed the recognition to the airline’s employees and their focus on passengers.
«We are honoured to be named Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition is a true reflection of the commitment, dedication and customer focus of our people. For a low-cost airline, people matter more than ever and they make the difference. I am incredibly proud of everyone behind this achievement. We will continue working together to deliver an affordable, convenient and high-quality travel experience for our passengers.»
For a low-cost carrier, the result is particularly significant because competition is built around more than ticket prices. Reliability, convenience and the consistency of the passenger experience can determine whether travelers return to an airline.
On-time performance reached 84%
The award coincides with an improvement in FlyArystan’s operational performance.
The airline recorded an on-time performance rate of 84% during summer 2026. FlyArystan said the result compared with an average of around 70% among European airlines during the comparable June–July period, based on Eurocontrol data.
The Kazakh carrier’s summer punctuality also improved substantially year on year. Its on-time performance for June–August increased from 73% in 2025 to 84% in 2026 — an 11-percentage-point rise.
Between January and August 2026, FlyArystan reported an on-time performance rate of 81%, compared with 76% over the same period in 2025.
International network continues to expand
The recognition comes during a year in which FlyArystan has continued developing both domestic and international connectivity.
Its autumn-winter 2026–2027 schedule includes 28 domestic and 13 international destinations. International services connect Kazakhstan with China, Uzbekistan, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates.
The carrier has also been adding and restoring individual routes during 2026, including connections with China, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and other regional markets.
For FlyArystan, four consecutive Skytrax awards now provide a measure of continuity: the carrier has retained its regional low-cost title while expanding its network and improving punctuality.
We recently reported on another indicator of that operational shift. In September, DKNews.kz examined FlyArystan’s summer performance and found that punctuality had risen by 11 percentage points year on year, reaching 84%.
