Kyrgyzstan taps foreign carriers for Asian resort routes

Photo: Qanot Sharq

Holding company Airports of Kyrgyzstan has announced the engagement of two airlines from neighboring countries to operate charter flights to Asian resort destinations. Starting November 17, 2026, private Uzbek carrier Qanot Sharq will launch twice-weekly service on the Bishkek (BSZ) – Phuket (HKT) route. Additionally, Kazakh airline SCAT will begin operating direct charter flights from Bishkek to the Chinese resort island of Sanya (SYX) in early December.

The carriers themselves have not officially announced the launch of flights from the Kyrgyz capital. Neither airline currently operates flights to the Central Asian republic.

Operating flights from Bishkek to Thailand and China will require granting these airlines fifth or seventh freedom of the air rights, which authorize commercial passenger transportation between third countries. Fifth freedom requires the flight to originate or terminate in the carrier’s home country, whereas seventh freedom rights allow flights to operate entirely outside the home country without stopping there.

Kyrgyz tour operators are likely tapping foreign airlines because local carriers lack aircraft capable of operating non-stop flights on these routes. Qanot Sharq is expected to deploy modern narrowbody Airbus A321neo aircraft on the Phuket route, featuring a range of up to 7,400 km. SCAT operates Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with a similar range.

By comparison, Kyrgyz airlines currently operate only previous-generation A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft, which have an operating range of around 5,000 km.