Air Astana is scheduled to be listed on both the Astana and London stock exchanges in 3Q 2018, pending market response. The airline has selected investment banks to advise on the public listing. Shareholder Samruk-Kazyna plans to sell no more than 25% in the carrier, with Kazakh investors needing to hold at least 51% of the airline after the floatation.

Proceeds from the listing will be used for expansion, including doubling its fleet and more than tripling annual passenger numbers to 10 million, with new routes to the US and Japan under consideration.

Hong Kong is also being considered as a possible city for its listing.