Kazakhstan Plans to Broaden Aviation Connections with China and Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan has announced plans to increase weekly flight frequencies and add new destinations for air connectivity with China and Uzbekistan following August 2023 bilateral negotiations.
At the second Central Asia - China civil aviation cooperation working group conference, Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chair of the Transport Ministry's Civil Aviation Committee, made this announcement. The conference, held on Aug. 12, also covered discussions on measures to attract investment in the aviation sector and the construction of air hubs.
In terms of the expansion with China, Kazakhstan will open a new destination at Yining (Kulja) in China’s Xinjiang region. Discussions regarding flights to Kashgar are also underway. The number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and China is set to increase to 124 per week starting in 2025.
This year, Kazakh SCAT Airlines launched three new twice-weekly routes from Shymkent to Shanghai, Xi’an, and Ürümqi. China Eastern Airlines began thrice-weekly flights between Almaty and Guangzhou in July 2025. Air Astana and China Southern Airlines have also signed a codeshare agreement to enhance connectivity on trunk routes, which is expected to boost flight frequencies and passenger options.
Regarding Uzbekistan, while specific new destinations or frequency numbers were not detailed, Kazakhstan announced plans after bilateral talks to increase flight frequency and broaden route geography, covering air links with both China and Uzbekistan.
Saltanat Tompiyeva stated that developing cargo air transportation will strengthen Kazakhstan's presence on the global aviation map. She highlighted Kazakhstan's unique geographical position as a factor in the development of cargo air transportation.
Last year, Kazakhstan and China signed an open skies agreement, which nearly doubled the number of flights between the two countries. The expansion of air connectivity is focused on Kazakhstan, China, and Uzbekistan, with the aim to create more opportunities for Kazakhstan's carriers.
[1] Kazinform (12 Aug. 2023) [2] The Astana Times (13 Aug. 2023) [3] Air Astana Press Release (15 Aug. 2023) [4] Uzbekistan Airports Press Release (14 Aug. 2023) [5] China Southern Airlines Press Release (16 Aug. 2023)
The expansion of air connectivity between Kazakhstan and China will certainly enrich travelers' lifestyles with new destinations such as Yining (Kulja) and potential flights to Kashgar, while the increased flight frequency to 124 per week from 2025 promises a more frequent travel experience. Additionally, Kazakhstan's plans for increased flight frequency and diversified routes with Uzbekistan will undoubtedly contribute to a greater travel freedom and diversity in the region, aligning with the contemporary lifestyle preferences.
