Kazakh low-cost carrier FlyArystan has announced the launch of a corporate social responsibility project known as 'Komek.' This scheme aims to support a wide variety of demographics when it comes to commercial air travel by offering them substantial discounts on flight tickets. For war veterans, these will be almost free.

100% discount on base fares for veterans

FlyArystan, which serves as a budget subsidiary to Kazakh carrier Air Astana, will offer "veterans of the Great Patriotic War and persons equated to them" a 100% base fare discount on "flights across Kazakhstan." In this instance, the Great Patriotic War refers to the Eastern Front of the Second World War from 1941 to 1945.

Of course, being a low-cost carrier, FlyArystan's base fares don't include aspects such as checked baggage. As such, veterans looking to make use of the scheme will still have to pay for the addition of such bags to their ticket, as well as the relevant taxes and airport fees. Nonetheless, this still represents a considerable discount.

Photo: Airbus

Given that today's surviving Second World War veterans will be in the region of 100 years old, they are perhaps among the least likely passengers to be traveling alone. However, FlyArystan has accommodated this in the terms and conditions of the almost free tickets by extending the discount to one accompanying passenger.

Elderly and disabled passengers also get discounts

War veterans are far from the only passengers that stand to benefit from FlyArystan's Komek corporate social responsibility project. All travelers aged more than 80 years old are entitled to a 50% base fare discount on flights within Kazakhstan, regardless of their participation (or lack thereof) in past conflicts.

Once again, these passengers will still have to pay for aspects such as taxes, fees, and additional baggage. However, this is not the case for "persons with disabilities of category 1," who, as FlyArystan announced today, will be entitled to a free checked bag weighing up to 20 kg (44 lbs) along with their 50% base fare discount.

Photo: Vladimir Tretyakov/Shutterstock

As such, these passengers will only have to pay 50% of their base fare and any accompanying fees and taxes as part of the scheme. Furthermore, they can also bring one accompanying passenger at the 50% rate. It is worth noting that the discount for disabled passengers will initially only run as a six-month pilot program.

Further discounts could follow

FlyArystan may add more demographics who can benefit from its Komek discounts. According to the airline, groups under consideration include "children from the families in need, seriously ill passengers going for treatment or surgery, as well as for schoolchildren and students flying to international competitions."

However, these will not be covered by blanket discounts like veterans, the elderly, and disabled passengers. Instead, FlyArystan is allowing individual requests to be made via a dedicated email address, which will be approved or denied at its discretion. It asks that these are sent at least two weeks before departure.

What do you make of FlyArystan's Komek corporate social responsibility project? Do you know of any similar schemes at other airlines? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!