AKIPRESS.COM - Air Astana (Kazakhstan) plans to launch services to Iran and Mongolia in 2016 while adding capacity on existing routes to China, Georgia, Ukraine and the UK, the press service of the company reported.

In particular, the airline plans to expand its fleet over the next four years to 35 aircrafts. The first of 11 A320neo family will be delivered in 2016, starting a major fleet renewal initiative.

Air Astana is continuing to grow capacity despite weakening demand in its home market. The carrier has been increasing its reliance on lower yielding sixth freedom traffic as the devaluation of the Kazakh tenge has impacted outbound demand but cost reductions have enabled it to remain profitable.