Currently, Air Astana is working towards launching regular flights between Japan and Kazakhstan.
This involves securing approval from Japan's aviation authorities. Submission of the required documents and determination of the technical matters to JCAB (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau) is expected to be a lengthy process - a minimum six months, we envisage. We would like to clarify that Air Astana has not received any subsidies from the Kazakhstan Government to commence commercial flights to Japan.
From the very beginning, the growth of Air Astana has been entirely self-sufficient, with no call on subsidies from the State budget. Eleven of the carrier's 33 aircraft, including its three long-range Boeing 767s, were purchased outright. The company will update media should there be any further developments.