Air Astana passes IATA operation safety audit becoming first Central Asian Carrier to do so.

Thursday 11th December, 2008

Air Astana has been officially registered by IATA (International Air Transport Association) as an IOSA (IATA Operation Safety Audit) compliant carrier. IOSA is a complex safety & quality audit designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline based upon more than 900 internationally recognised standards. IOSA is obligatory for all IATA members.

Air Astana became the first Central Asian airline to pass IOSA and one of six CIS airlines with an unrestricted IOSA certification. Air Astana’s IOSA audit was conducted in September 2007 by the highly respected company AQS (Aviation Quality Services) a subsidiary of Lufthansa Flight Training GmbH.

“Safety has been the number one priority at Air Astana since its launch and I am delighted that this core value is now officially recognized with IOSA qualification. This achievement combines with the airline’s commitment to a modern all western fleet, operational reliability and constant innovation in passenger service to demonstrate its leadership amongst CIS / Central Asian carriers,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.

The audit assessed eight primary operations functions in the airline including Organisation & Management Systems, Flight Operations, Aircraft Engineering & Maintenance, Operational Control & Flight Dispatch, Aircraft Ground Handling, Cabin Operations, Cargo Operations and Operational Security.

Preparation started more than a year before the audit and served as an opportunity for the airline to improve structure, policies, processes and procedures, even checklists. The improvements not only led to improved safety/risk management but also efficiency benefits. The IOSA process in both the planning phase as well as reviewing performance after the audit allowed Air Astana to establish better integrated operations, which significantly compliments the effectiveness of the established safety management system within Air Astana. The next audit for the confirmation of Air Astana compliance with IOSA standards is planned for 2009.

Air Astana is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s Samruk State Holding (51%) and BAE Systems (49%). The airline commenced regular flight operations in May 2002 and currently operates a network that serves 25 domestic and 21 international destinations from its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau. Air Astana is a full member of the International Air Transport Association and is the only airline in Kazakhstan with EASA Part 145 aircraft maintenance certification.