Air Astana to increase flights from Astana to neighboring megamarkets

Air Astana’s route network (image – Air Astana)

Kazakhstan’s largest airline group, Air Astana, has reaffirmed its strategy to expand its network from the capital city of Astana to adjacent “megamarkets,” specifically China and the Indian subcontinent. These regions dominate the group’s development plan published through 2030.

This year, Air Astana launched a route from Astana to Guangzhou, adding to its existing operations to Beijing, Sanya, and Urumqi. Between 2027 and 2030, the mainline carrier plans to add new Chinese destinations, including Shanghai and Xi’an.

Its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan has begun flying from the Kazakh capital to Yining and plans to add another destination in western China, Kashgar.

In India, Air Astana will supplement its existing flights to the resort city of Goa with direct services to Delhi and Amritsar. Meanwhile, FlyArystan is set to launch flights from Astana to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

Notably, the group has no plans to open new European routes through 2030. Air Astana currently serves just two destinations in the region from the capital: Frankfurt, Germany, and Podgorica, Montenegro.

In addition to China, the group launched scheduled and charter flights in 2026 from Astana to Bangkok (Thailand), Larnaca (Cyprus), Dalaman (Turkey), Batumi (Georgia), Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), and Salalah (Oman). The group’s route network from Astana now encompasses 32 destinations, including newly announced routes.

Concurrently, Air Astana is increasing weekly flight frequencies on existing international routes out of Astana from 99 to 116, including services to Beijing, Seoul, Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Dubai. Compared to 2025, seat capacity on the Astana–Beijing route grew by 55%, while capacity on routes to Seoul and Istanbul rose by 20%.

The group is also strengthening its operational footprint in the capital. The number of aircraft based in Astana grew from 13 in 2024 to 16 in the summer of 2026, with the base expected to reach 22 aircraft in 2027.