Air Astana CEO Peter Foster will retire from his position  from the Board of Directors of the Kazakhstan-based airline at the end of March 2026.

Peter Foster has lead Air Astana since 2005, having joined from Royal Brunei where he had been CEO. At this point, Air Astana had only been operating for three years and needed someone with experience to steer its trajectory.

Mr Foster will remain connected to the Group in the role of Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors. Ibrahim Canliel, Chief Financial Officer, is to be appointed Chief Executive Officer at that time.

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Thanking Mr Foster for his time at the airline since its foundations, Chairman of the Board of Directors Nurlan Zhakupov said: “The Board would like to welcome Ibrahim Canliel to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Canliel has worked for the Air Astana Group since 2003, initially in senior commercial roles and subsequently as Chief Financial Officer, a post he has held since 2017. His contribution has been immense and he brings with him great experience of both the Group and of the airline industry. The Board has the fullest confidence that he will guide the company to continued growth and success.”