Kazakhstan and Switzerland establish legal framework to launch direct flights

Image: Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan and Switzerland are laying the regulatory groundwork to establish scheduled direct air connectivity. The development follows bilateral negotiations between civil aviation authorities held in Astana.

The consultations brought together delegates from the Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) and Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Executive leadership from Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg also joined the sessions.

Key bilateral outcomes

Following the talks, the delegations executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) granting designated carriers from both states traffic rights for up to 28 weekly passenger frequencies. The instrument also establishes an unrestricted regulatory framework for cargo operations, lifting capacity and frequency ceilings for all-cargo flights.

Additionally, both authorities initialed the draft of a modernized intergovernmental Air Services Agreement (ASA). Once formally signed, the treaty will update the legal architecture governing bilateral air transport, providing long-term commercial predictability for route development.

According to CAC statement, Swiss side confirmed commercial interest in expanding footprints into Central Asia and are evaluating the feasibility of launching scheduled routes to Kazakhstan.

Operational context and market constraints

Scheduled non-stop passenger services between the two markets do not currently operate and have historically never been maintained on a scheduled basis.

Point-to-Point Demand: Thin legacy passenger volumes previously challenged the yield profile required to justify dedicated long-haul asset deployment.

Hub Distribution: O&D traffic has traditionally been absorbed by hub-and-spoke networks via hubs such as Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Doha.

Airspace Restrictions: Since February 2022, the closure of Ukrainian airspace and restrictions surrounding Russian airspace have introduced structural routing penalties. Mandatory southern corridor detours add sector block times, increase fuel burn, and elevate overall trip costs.

Despite these headwinds, the CAC noted that establishing a direct air bridge between Kazakhstan and Switzerland will catalyze high-yield corporate travel, trade expansion, and tourism corridors between Central Asia and Western Europe.