JV Agreement with China Southern Airlines

(LSE:AIRA) Air Astana JSC, together with its subsidiary FlyArystan, has signed a joint venture agreement with China Southern Airlines to strengthen air connectivity between Kazakhstan and China, expand travel opportunities, and deliver greater convenience and choice for passengers. This agreement is the first airline joint venture between Kazakhstan and China and builds on the airlines' existing codeshare partnership. Under the agreement, Air Astana and China Southern Airlines will coordinate flight schedules, expand codeshare services, and undertake joint marketing initiatives. The partnership aims to provide more consistent travel conditions, smoother transfers, and greater access to destinations across Kazakhstan, China, and beyond. According to Talgat Lastaev, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the number of flights between Kazakhstan and China has increased by 52% compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 117 scheduled flights per week across 21 routes. Since the start of 2026, more than one million passengers have been carried between the two countries. The Ministry plans to further expand the route network with China, increasing it to 30 destinations. Richard Ledger, VP, Partnerships and Alliances of Air Astana, stated that China is a strategically important market for Air Astana and that the joint venture represents an important step in deepening the commercial relationship with China Southern Airlines. Zeng Yongchao, EVP of China Southern Airlines, highlighted that the joint venture is a substantive achievement in aviation connectivity under the Belt and Road framework. Air Astana operates flights from Astana and Almaty to Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, offering up to 36 weekly regular return flights during the peak season. China Southern Airlines operates flights from Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Xi'an to Almaty and Astana, offering up to 29 weekly regular return flights during the peak season. Together, the airlines provide an extensive network of services between the two countries. The partnership is expected to support the development of business, tourism, education, and family travel between Kazakhstan and China, and strengthen connectivity for passengers connecting onwards through both countries. Air Astana Group operates a fleet of 64 aircraft split between Air Astana and FlyArystan. Air Astana has been recognized by SkyTrax as the Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS for fifteen years running and has received the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & CIS award ten times in a row. FlyArystan has been recognized as the Best Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) in Central Asia & CIS at the SkyTrax awards four times. Air Astana was awarded a five-star rating in the major airline category by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The Group is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange, and London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRA). China Southern Airlines operates a fleet totaling 973 passenger and cargo aircraft as of mid-2026. China Southern Airlines was the first to be honored with the Three-Star Flight Safety Diamond Award by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Seven-Star Safety Rating by AirlineRatings.com. China Southern Airlines has topped the airline service category of the China Brand Power Index for 16 years in a row and has been honored with the CAPSE Best Airline Award for nine consecutive years.

Q2 and Half Year 2026 Results

(LSE/AIM:AIRA) Air Astana JSC reported total revenue and other income increased 18.3% to USD 433.0 million for Q2 2026 (Q2 2025: USD 365.8 million), with group passengers carried falling 1.7% to 2.45 million and average load factor stable at 81.6%. EBITDAR decreased 3.7% to USD 93.6 million, and PAT decreased to USD -0.1 million (Q2 2025: USD 18.0 million). For H1 2026, total revenue and other income increased 16.1% to USD 763.9 million, with EBITDAR down 9.7% to USD 141.7 million and PAT at USD -21.2 million (H1 2025: USD 10.7 million). The company reported a cash and bank balance of USD 481.5 million as at 30 June 2026, with a cash-to-sales ratio of 30.9% and Net Debt/EBITDAR at 2.1x. Air Astana nearly doubled summer capacity to China year-on-year to up to 51 weekly flights, and saw an 82% increase in international connecting traffic in Q2. The company projects zero groundings in summer 2027 and aims to expand its total fleet to 86 aircraft by the end of 2030.

Information on Dividend Payment

(LSE/AIM:AIRA) Air Astana Group announced the payment of dividends on the Company's ordinary shares and GDRs from the retained earnings of the Company for the year 2025, with the total amount subject to payment being KZT 3,511,431,000 and the total amount paid being KZT 3,506,247,778.24 (to account for Treasury stock). The record date for the dividend was June 24, 2026, 00:00 AM (Astana time), and the payment date was June 30, 2026. The total dividend amount is KZT 9.92 per ordinary share or KZT 39.68 per GDR (each representing four shares). The Group operates a fleet of 63 aircraft split between Air Astana and FlyArystan. Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The Group is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange and London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRA).

Transactions in Own Securities

Air Astana JSC announced that between 6 May 2026 and 11 May 2026, it repurchased 7,296 ordinary shares and 7,296 GDRs (representing 29,184 shares) for a total consideration of USD 42,983.57 as part of its buyback programme. As of the date of the report, the company has repurchased a total of 1,574,722 shares and 300,748 GDRs, representing 0.78% of the total number of issued shares. The buyback programme was announced on 16 March 2026 and is executed through JSC "Halyk Finance". The Group operates a fleet of 63 aircraft and is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange, and London Stock Exchange. The announcement provides a detailed breakdown of the trades and highlights the company's recognition and awards.

Results for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026

Air Astana JSC reported its results for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026, showing total revenue and other income increased 13.2% to USD 331.0 million, despite ongoing cost challenges and the Gulf conflict. EBITDAR decreased 19.6% to USD 48.2 million, and PAT fell to USD -21.1 million. The company launched new routes, including its first flight to Shanghai, and expanded capacity to India, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. The Group maintained a strong liquidity position with cash and cash equivalents of USD 442.0 million and continued investment in fleet and operational activity.

Publication of Annual Report and Accounts 2025

Air Astana Joint Stock Company has published its Integrated Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025. The 2025 Annual Report will shortly be submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority's National Storage Mechanism and is available on the Company's website. Air Astana Group operates a fleet of 63 aircraft and is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The Group includes Air Astana JSC and FlyArystan JSC, serving domestic, regional, and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Gulf, India, and Europe. Air Astana JSC is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange, and London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRA).