Air Astana Signs with ARINC for Interim Network Service at LHR

Annapolis, Maryland—ARINC Incorporated today announced receipt of a contract from Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, to provide AviNet Airport^TM wide-area network service at London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 2. Air Astana becomes the 17th customer for ARINC’s AviNet Airport^TM service at LHR.

ARINC received the contract on March 23, and the carrier’s WAN service is already in operation. The contract is unusual because Air Astana is scheduled to move to larger quarters at LHR Terminal 4 by early 2010. At that location they may be required to use a different network provider.

“ARINC’s support for our passenger services in Terminal 2 made us feel very comfortable selecting them for this short-term network contract,” stated Konstantin Tsoy IT and Infrastructure Manager. “In addition, ARINC’s proposal did not penalize us for the need to relocate in a few months.”

ARINC offers a substantial level of AviNet Airport network availability within the Heathrow campus. Its iMUSE^TM passenger technology at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 includes full provision for AviNet Airport service via the existing iMUSE Cores. This translates into a high level of network reliability many airline customers do not expect.

“We designed our proposal to give Air Astana the most economical and fastest way to establish an airport presence at LHR Terminal 2,” said Tony Chapman, Senior Program Director, ARINC European Operations. “We understood their needs and were able to provide a level of contractual flexibility allowing them to move after quite a short period to a new Terminal and potentially a different provider without any financial penalty. Normally such short contractual periods are unavailable from most network providers.”

Air Astana has a modern fleet of 21 Boeing and Airbus planes, and operates code share agreements with KLM airBaltic, and Austrian Airlines. It recently entered partnership with Lufthansa expanding flight offerings for the passengers of both airlines. For more information, visit the web site at www.airastana.com.

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified. 

Release: 09-044

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