Air Astana, Kazakhstan's national airline, has inaugurated a new direct flight service from Almaty to Shanghai, marking a significant expansion of its network in China. The service, which began at the end of March, operates three times a week and was celebrated with a press conference at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.
The addition of Shanghai to Air Astana's routes complements its existing services to Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya, Urumqi, and Yining. This expansion underscores the airline's commitment to strengthening connectivity between Kazakhstan and China, a relationship that began with its first Almaty-Beijing flight in December 2002.
With the inclusion of Shanghai, Air Astana now offers up to 32 weekly flights between Kazakhstan and six Chinese cities. This expansion provides passengers with more travel options and supports both direct and transit travel across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, and Asia. In 2025, the airline transported over 250,000 passengers between Kazakhstan and China, a 96% increase from 2024.
Ibrahim Canliel, CEO of Air Astana Group, highlighted the importance of the new route, stating, “The launch of our Shanghai service is an important milestone in the development of our network and reflects the growing strength of ties between Kazakhstan and China. Shanghai is a key global city, and this route will further enhance connectivity not only between our two countries, but also for passengers travelling onwards across our network.”
Air Astana Group, the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus, operates a fleet of 63 aircraft and has been recognised by SkyTrax for its excellence in the region. The new route is expected to bolster the airline's position as a leading carrier in the region
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