Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 4 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Kazakh National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna, which owns 51 percent in the national air carrier Air Astana, plans to acquire a 49-percent stake in the airline from the second shareholder - British BAE Systems, Chairman of Air Astana Board of Directors Nurzhan Baydauletov told journalists in Almaty on Saturday.
According to Baydauletov, these plans are due to Kazakhstan's intention to safe the controlling package of shares after providing 10-15 percent of shares for The People's IPO.
Kazakhstan is preparing to implement the program The People's IPO, which envisages offering shares of a number of national companies to the Kazakh people.
According to Baydauletov, the negotiations to purchase shares are underway. The sum of the deal has not been determined yet.
Air Astana is Kazakhstan's largest airline, which is the national carrier of the country. Air Astana is a joint venture of Kazakhstan's National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna (51 percent) and Britain's BAE Systems company (49 percent). Today, the Air Astana airline's aircraft fleet consists of 26 aircrafts. The company plans to increase its fleet to 43 aircraft by 2020.
Kazakhstan plans to acquire 49-percent stake in Air Astana airline
Kazakh National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna, which owns 51 percent in the national air carrier Air Astana, plans to acquire a 49-percent stake in the airline from the second shareholder - British BAE Systems