Kazakhstan reduces price of aviation fuel for foreign airlines to increase transit

ASTANA. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The prices for aviation fuel for international airlines have been reduced in Kazakhstan to increase transit attractiveness, the press service of JSC Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund said.

"Since January, the cost of aviation fuel for foreign air carriers has been about $930-$1,000 per tonne of jet fuel, whereas previously the cost reached $1,200," the press service said.

The measure aims to increase the country's transit attractiveness and develop Kazakhstan as a regional aviation hub, it said.

The supplier of aviation fuel for international airlines is KazMunayGas-Aero, a subsidiary of the national company JSC KazMunayGas.

The company has direct contracts for aircraft refueling "into the wing" with a number of leading international airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo, FlyDubai, Red Sea, Air Cairo, Somon Air, FlyMeta and Silk Way West Airlines.

It is expected that a unified and lower cost of aviation fuel will attract such major airlines as Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Air China as well as leading global cargo operators to Kazakh airports.

JSC Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund was created in 2008. The fund manages the largest strategic companies of Kazakhstan, among which are Air Astana, Kazakhtelecom, Kazatomprom, KazMunayGas, Kazpost, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, KEGOC and others.