FlyArystan to replace SCAT on Aktau–Yerevan route

CentralAsia+Aero

Air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Armenia continues to undergo structural shifts following a period of rapid growth this year, with four regional carriers now competing across the corridor.

Low-cost carrier (LCC) FlyArystan, a subsidiary of the Air Astana Group, is set to resume direct service between Aktau (SCO) and Yerevan (EVN) on December 16 as part of its ongoing international route expansion. The route will operate twice weekly utilizing narrowbody Airbus A320 equipment.

FlyArystan replaces local private operator SCAT Airlines on the city pair. While SCAT maintained seasonal summer operations on the route, it has removed capacity from the winter schedule. FlyArystan originally launched service to the Armenian capital in May 2023; the airline notes that the service resumption restores key point-to-point capacity for passengers in western Kazakhstan.

The 90-minute sector also acts as a feeder link for self-connecting traffic into Europe via Zvartnots International Airport (EVN), which offers a broad European network, though interline connections remain unbundled.

Bilateral air traffic between the two nations rebounded significantly in April, when SCAT launched 2x weekly Boeing 737 service between Aktau and Yerevan, alongside Armenian carrier Shirak Avia’s weekly Astana–Yerevan operation.

In June, Armenian private carrier FlyOne Armenia further expanded market capacity by introducing a twice-weekly Airbus A320 service connecting Yerevan and Almaty.