Kazakhstan may purchase new aircraft to replace aging fleet

Airline Industry Information, Feb 6, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Kazakhstan reportedly wants to take advantage of current low priced civil aircraft and modernise its aging fleet.

According to the Transport and Communications Minister Ablay Myrzakhmetov, there were 33 incidents on Kazakh aircraft last year, and 70% of them had been due to mechanical failures. There have also been four incidents since the beginning of 2002.

Kazakhstan reportedly plans to buy three long-haul aircraft, four regional aircraft and five turboprop ATRs. The purchase may be financed by the budget or a loan guaranteed by the government, reported Reuters.

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