Air Astana Group, the leading airline in Central Asia and the Caucasus, reported a 13.2% revenue increase to USD 331 million in Q1 2026, driven by agile capacity reallocation amidst Gulf conflict challenges. Despite a 19.6% EBITDAR decline to USD 48.2 million due to engine-related costs, the company demonstrated resilience with a 3.0% RPK growth and improved load factor to 83.3%. Strategic network expansions, including new routes to Shanghai and increased frequencies to India and Central Asia, bolstered international capacity. The fleet is set to grow to 86 aircraft by 2030, with ongoing mitigation of Pratt & Whitney engine issues. Digital enhancements, sustainability initiatives, and continued service excellence underscore the groups commitment to long-term growth and customer satisfaction.
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue and other income (million USD) | 331.0 | 292.4 | 13.2% |
| EBITDAR (million USD) | 48.2 | 59.9 | -19.6% |
| EBITDAR margin (%) | 14.6 | 20.5 | -5.9pp |
| PAT (million USD) | -21.1 | -7.3 | -189.0% |
| ASK (billion) | 4.72 | 4.69 | 0.7% |
| RPK (billion) | 3.94 | 3.82 | 3.0% |
| RASK (US cents) | 7.01 | 6.23 | 12.4% |
| CASK (US cents) | 7.30 | 6.09 | 19.8% |
| Cash and bank balances (million USD) | 442.0 | 513.7 | -14.0% |
| Net Debt/EBITDAR | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| Cash/sales (%) | 29.6% | 38.4% | -8.8pp |