JSC Air Astana issued draft tender documents for procurement of consulting services for a project to assess the possibility of establishing a cargo airline.

The proposed airline plans to transport cargo destined for Kazakhstan, as well as transit cargo between Asia and Europe, using cargo aircraft capacity and cargo compartments in its passenger aircraft.

Air Astana is seeking a five-year business plan, with an income forecast from March 2019 to 2023. The prospective supplier must provide expertise in the field of commercial cargo issues "to independently generate revenue forecasts and related business opportunities".

The new cargo airline will launch with one wet-leased aircraft in the first 2-3 years of operations, and swap to dry lease thereafter along with the potential to increase the fleet to three aircraft.

The tender for the proposed airline also hinted at Hong Kong as being a main destination.