FlyArystan, the brand-new Eurasian low fare airline from Kazakh flag-carrier, Air Astana, is on the final countdown to the launch of services on May 1st.

Inaugural domestic routes from Almaty International Airport will depart for Taraz and Uralsk.

FlyArystan is flying Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 180 economy seats on both routes. 

Operating daily, FlyArystan will offer more than 130,000 seats on each of the routes annually. 

“With Board approval for this exciting new airline granted just six months ago, seats going on sale so swiftly is a remarkable achievement,” said Peter Foster, president and chief executive of Air Astana.

“FlyArystan adds strength to what we can now call the Air Astana Group. 

“It enables us to effectively compete in the growing low-cost travel segment in our country on better than equal terms with other airlines. 

“FlyArystan gives us the opportunity to grow the overall market by taking customers from other forms of travel and we are proud to be playing an important social and economic development role in Kazakhstan by creating this exciting new airline.”

FlyArystan is based on the existing low-cost carrier model, following the examples of airlines such as easyJet, Indigo, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia.

The airline plans to expand onto regional international routes in the mid-term. 

FlyArystan will initially operate four aircraft, with the fleet growing to at least 15 by 2022.

“FlyArystan presents a great opportunity for both Kazakhstan citizens and foreign visitors to travel more easily and comfortably across this vast country with lower air fares,” added Tim Jordan, the new head of FlyArystan.

“With only a month to go before the launch of our first services to Taraz and Uralsk, we are delighted at the immediate strong market response and look forward to welcoming our first customers in May.”