Directorate change

Air Astana JSC

18 February 2026

 

18 February 2026

Statement regarding management changes at FlyArystan

Almaty, Kazakhstan - Air Astana JSC ("Air Astana" and, together with its subsidiary FlyArystan, "the Group") wishes to announce the appointment of Johan Eidhagen as the President of FlyArystan, the Group's low-cost airline, effective 1 March 2026.

Johan Eidhagen joins from Wizz Air where he held several senior roles, including most recently that of the Managing Director of Wizz Air, Abu Dhabi. During his time at Wizz Air, he was also the Chief People & ESG Officer and the Chief Marketing Officer at Wizz Air Group. Prior to Wizz Air, Johan spent fourteen years with Nokia in a range of senior executive positions across multiple jurisdictions. 

Johan replaces Richard Ledger, who will now move to a newly created senior executive position in the Air Astana Group as Vice President, Partnerships and Alliances. Codeshare agreements, including those signed recently with China Southern Airlines and Air India, are vital to our evolving international presence. Richard will support and develop these opportunities which give us access to huge markets in our region.

Air Astana CEO, Peter Foster commented:

"With several years in senior roles at Wizz Air, leading the People, ESG and Marketing initiatives, Johan has the experience and low-cost airline background to ensure we capitalise on the high growth potential of FlyArystan. Technological innovation has been central to FlyArystan delivering a high-quality service while balancing cost and comfort, and those efforts will be reinvigorated with Johan at the helm. I am confident that with Johan's leadership, FlyArystan will further dominate in the region and beyond.

We are grateful to Richard, who will now transition to the role of Vice President, Partnerships and Alliances to grow our Enhanced Strategic Partnerships which form a central pillar of our ambitious growth strategy.

Together with Ibrahim, who in April will become CEO, and Gonçalo Pires, who will join as CFO in March, I am confident that the Air Astana Group will continue to successfully execute its ambitious long-term growth strategy."

This announcement contains inside information. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Air Astana is Simon Wray. This announcement was authorised for release following a delay in accordance with Article 17(4) of the UK Market Abuse Regulation.

For further information:

Investor Relations:	[e-mail]
Corporate Communications:	[e-mail]
Financial Media:	[e-mail]

About the Air Astana Group:

Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The Group operates a fleet of 62 aircraft split between Air Astana, its full-service airline that operated its inaugural flight in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019. The Group provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Gulf, India and Europe. Air Astana has been recognised by SkyTrax as the Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS fourteen years running and received the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & CIS award nine times in a row. FlyArystan has been recognised as the Best Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) in Central Asia & CIS at the SkyTrax awards three times. Additionally, Air Astana was awarded a five-star rating in the major airline category by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The Group is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange and London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRA).

 

END