Air Astana, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Bank CenterCredit, held a meeting for its suppliers on new opportunities for financing and business development. According to the airline's statement of 9 October, suppliers were introduced to the supply-chain financing programme that the EBRD implements with Bank CenterCredit.
Air Astana's suppliers will be able to get financing against approved invoices, and the reverse factoring mechanism will let them receive payment for goods and services ahead of the agreed deadline. They were also introduced to the EBRD's grant and expert support programme, which helps develop environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
The framework was announced in March 2026: according to the EBRD, it is a five-year, EUR 18 million facility in which the EBRD shares half of the risk on supplier financing and Bank CenterCredit acts as administrator. The EBRD describes the beneficiaries as mostly local small and medium-sized enterprises, including suppliers of office supplies, catering, maintenance and entertainment services, and notes that more than 30% of Air Astana's operating costs go to local sourcing.
In August 2026, Air Astana received the IATA ISP certificate for sustainable procurement. According to the airline, it became the first in Central Asia and the CIS and the third in the world. Dilyara Kunkhojaeva, Vice-President of Procurement, said the company will raise its ESG requirements and expects the ESG maturity of its supply chain to grow alongside it.
On 14 October, a meeting will be held in Astana for Air Astana suppliers based in the capital and surrounding regions: representatives of the airline, the EBRD and Bank CenterCredit will explain participation conditions and answer questions.
Our assessment: for the airline's suppliers, access to financing is now tied to rising ESG requirements. Companies serving Kazakhstan's carriers should prepare data and practices in advance. This is flycentralasia's conclusion, not a statement by Air Astana.
For catering, MRO and ground handling suppliers, as well as banks and investors: the scheme shows a model that could be applied to other airlines in the region.
The volume of financing already provided and the number of participating suppliers have not been disclosed.