Air Astana has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to purchase up to 50 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus.
The agreement — comprising 25 firm aircraft and 25 purchase options — will be the largest-ever order placed by the airline.
The MoU includes a mix of Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, and deliveries would begin in 2031, though the order remains subject to shareholder approval.
The majority of the aircraft will be allocated to the Airbus A321LR, a version of the aircraft to which Air Astana was one of the first airlines to install a "deluxe" configuration, for deployment on its long-haul services to Asia and Europe.
Air Astana introduced the first A320ceo to its fleet in 2006, operating the aircraft on its domestic network and on services to international destinations in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
In November 2016, the first new-generation A320neo family aircraft joined the fleet, followed by the first A321LR in September 2019.
The Airbus A321LR aircraft are operated on long-haul routes to destinations in Asia and Europe.
The Air Astana Group currently operates a fleet of 62 aircraft, including 59 A320 family aircraft, split between Air Astana, the full-service flag carrier of Kazakhstan, and FlyArystan, its low-cost subsidiary.