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Kazakhstan and China have agreed to significantly expand scheduled air services between the two countries following aviation consultations held in Beijing between Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee and the Civil Aviation Administration of China. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the talks focused on bilateral cooperation in civil aviation. The two sides agreed to increase the number of scheduled passenger flights operated by airlines of both countries from 124 to 152 flights per week. They also expanded the list of major Chinese destinations available for air services with Kazakhstan to 11 cities, adding Chongqing, one of southwestern China’s largest industrial, logistics, and transportation hubs, with a population of more than 32 million. The consultations also covered plans to launch direct flights between Astana and Shanghai, with airlines from both countries expected to participate. Another key issue was the creation of a third international air corridor between Kazakhstan and China. The new route is expected to increase the capacity of regional airspace, optimize flight paths, reduce congestion on existing air routes, and support further growth in passenger and cargo traffic between the two countries. The parties also discussed the allocation of airport slots for Kazakh airlines at Chinese airports, expanded access to Chinese airspace for Kazakh carriers operating international transit flights, and the conclusion of an interagency agreement on civil aviation search-and-rescue cooperation. “The two sides confirmed their mutual interest in further developing cooperation in civil aviation and agreed to continue joint efforts aimed at expanding air connectivity, improving transport links, and strengthening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China,” the Ministry of Transport said. The agreement comes as Kazakhstan continues to expand its international aviation network. Earlier this month, Kazakhstan’s low-cost carrier FlyArystan announced the launch of a new Atyrau-Batumi route to Georgia beginning July 14, with weekly flights operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. From August 2026, Turkish carrier AJet will also increase frequencies on both the Astana-Ankara and Almaty-Ankara routes from two to seven weekly flights. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific plans to launch scheduled cargo services to Astana in August 2026, followed by regular passenger flights between Hong Kong and Almaty in January 2027.
Cathay, Hong Kong’s flagship airline, plans to launch regular cargo flights to Astana in August 2026 and begin passenger services between Hong Kong and Almaty in January 2027, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport said. Cathay is based at Hong Kong International Airport and is among the world’s leading passenger and cargo airlines. The carrier also holds a five-star rating from Skytrax, the British aviation consultancy that evaluates service quality at airlines and airports worldwide. The airline’s plans to enter the Kazakhstan's market were discussed during a meeting between Saltanat Tompiyeva, chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, and Oliver Coelho, Cathay’s regional manager for the Middle East. According to the ministry, Cathay intends to begin regular cargo flights to Astana on August 1, operating up to five services a week with Boeing 747 aircraft. The airline also plans to launch scheduled passenger flights between Hong Kong and Almaty from January 2027. The route is expected to operate three times a week using Airbus A330 aircraft. Tompiyeva said Kazakhstan was ready to provide the necessary support for both projects. The two sides agreed to continue work on the regulatory and operational procedures required to launch the services and to coordinate closely on developing air links between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. Kazakhstan’s authorities expect the new routes to support trade and tourism. They also expect the services to improve logistics and deepen economic ties with Hong Kong. Cathay currently operates around 237 aircraft and serves more than 100 passenger destinations. Its cargo subsidiary, Cathay Cargo, operates scheduled freight services to 41 destinations and transports more than 1.67 million tons of cargo annually, placing it among the world’s largest air-freight operators. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev said in May that direct flights between Astana and Tokyo were expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, while a direct Astana-New York service could be launched in the second quarter of 2027. In early July, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also called for construction of a second airport in Astana to begin as soon as possible amid rising passenger traffic and intensifying competition between Central Asia’s transport and logistics hubs.
Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, working alongside the Aviation Administration, has temporarily suspended flights of TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F light aircraft following two fatal crashes near Astana in recent months. The suspensions are intended to allow for thorough investigations of both incidents. On June 22, 2025, a privately owned TL-2000 light aircraft crashed during a training flight near Zholaman Airfield, resulting in the deaths of both people on board. The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. A special investigation commission was established by the Ministry of Transport to determine the cause. On August 17, 2025, an Aerostar R40F (registration UP-LA229) crashed during a general aviation flight about 55 kilometers from Astana in the Akmola region. The crash resulted in the death of both the pilot and passenger. A commission was dispatched by the Ministry of Transport’s accident investigation department to the crash site, including representatives from the Transport Police and regional authorities. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev confirmed that each incident is being investigated independently, and that both aircraft models will remain grounded until the investigations conclude. The Civil Aviation Committee, in collaboration with the Aviation Administration, has suspended flights of both TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F aircraft models pending investigation results. The investigation into the June TL-2000 crash is ongoing, with final conclusions expected before the end of 2025.
