Air Astana, Neos Enter into Strategic Partnership

DALLAS — Air Astana Group (KC), the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size, has entered into a strategic partnership with Neos SpA (NO), the second-largest Italian airline and part of the Alpitour group.

The partnership will involve several areas of cooperation, including a codeshare agreement, service collaboration on Boeing aircraft, and the potential formation of a joint venture for routes between Italy and Kazakhstan, the latter subject to regulatory, anti-trust, and governmental authority permits.

Under the codeshare agreement, KC will apply its code to NO-operated flights between Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Almaty (ALA), and vice versa. This will provide KC passengers with more flexibility, convenience, and flight options between Kazakhstan and Italy.

The strategic partnership also includes service collaboration on Boeing aircraft. Starting in 2025, when Air Astana Group receives delivery of three Boeing 787-9 aircraft, the parties will share technical and operational insights gained from Neos' existing operations and KC's entrance into service.

About the Airlines

Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions in terms of revenue and fleet size. It operates a fleet of 50 aircraft split between KC, its full-service airline established in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019.

The group provides scheduled, point-to-point, and transit air travel and cargo services on domestic, regional, and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Middle East, India, and Europe. Air Astana has been recognized multiple times as the "Best Airline in Central Asia and CIS" at the Skytrax World Airline Awards).

Neos SpA is an Italian airline and a subsidiary of Alpitour S.p.A. It operates a fleet of Boeing aircraft to over 73 scheduled domestic, European, and intercontinental destinations. Neos was established in 2001 as a joint venture between Alpitour S.p.A. and the German TUI Group. It became a fully owned subsidiary of Alpitour in 2004.

Neos is headquartered in Somma Lombardo, Lombardy, and operates from its main hub at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP).