DALLAS — Air Astana (KC), in collaboration with Airbus, is equipping Airbus A321LR aircraft with additional fuel tanks to improve the efficiency of its long-haul flights.

The airline will now be able to operate long-haul nonstop flights without the need for technical stopovers and saving fuel. The change will allow KC to begin nonstop flights on the Almaty to London route on October 4, 2024.

The duration of the entire journey will be reduced by 1.5 hours to 9 hours and 35 minutes—among the world's longest itineraries for narrow-body planes, as a result of this route's continuous operation, which has required a technical stop in Aktau since March 2022.

Boosting Operational Efficiency, Passenger Confort

As with most airlines today, the change aims to increase the carrier's operational effectiveness. With more fuel tanks and a longer range, the airline will be able to optimize its operations, saving money and minimizing downtime from technical stops.

The renovation also offers passengers a better onboard experience. Journeys will be quicker and more convenient with the longer layovers a thing of the past with the more comfortable nonstop flights.

Air Astana recently announced it would begin operating new flights from Atyrau, in western Kazakhstan, to Dubai On October 26, 2024. On October 30, 2024, flights from Astana to Abu Dhabi will begin, and on December 12, 2024, flights from Almaty to Abu Dhabi. Two aircraft each week, an A321neo and an A321LR, will operate each flight.