Statement regarding BAE Systems disposal
Summary by AI BETAClose X
19 March 2026
Statement regarding BAE Systems disposal
Almaty, Kazakhstan - Air Astana JSC ("Air Astana" and, together with its subsidiary FlyArystan, "the Group") notes the announcement that BAE Systems plan to sell their remaining holding in the company. We would refer to their public disclosures for further details of the transaction.
BAE Systems has been a key partner of Air Astana since our inception. The company was formed as a joint venture between the Kazakhstan State and BAE Systems in 2001. BAE Systems reduced their holding to 16.95% as part of the Air Astana's IPO in 2024 and sold a further 10.1% stake in December 2025. We recognise that Air Astana was no longer a core holding in the context of their wider operations and we look forward to welcoming new shareholders to the group at this exciting point in our development. We also note the increase to our free float as a function of the sale.
Air Astana recently reported results for the Full Year 2025 which showed a resilient performance with strong revenue and capacity growth. Total Revenue increased 11.4% to USD1,453.9m and EBITDAR increased 0.8% to USD321.2m (22.1% margin). Details of the results can be found via the below link:
https://ir.airastana.com/en/disclosure-center/regulatory-disclosure-and-releases/
For further information:
|
Investor Relations: |
investor.relations@airastana.com
|
|
Financial Media: |
|
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).
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 1 hour ago Frasers Group
- 1 hour ago Cavendish Financial
- 1 hour ago Diaceutics
- 1 hour ago AB Dynamics
- 15 hours ago Johnson Matthey