New Air Route - The Times Of Central Asia

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New Air Route

Direct Flights Between Tashkent and Lake Issyk-Kul Launched

Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned Asman Airlines will launch a seasonal direct service between Tashkent and Lake Issyk-Kul on July 8, expanding transport links between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan during the peak summer tourism season. The route is being introduced in partnership with Uzbek tour operator Malva Tour and is intended to make travel to Kyrgyzstan’s largest resort area more convenient for visitors from Uzbekistan. Flights will operate once a week, every Wednesday, arriving at Issyk-Kul International Airport in the village of Tamchy on the lake’s northern shore. The journey will take approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Round-trip fares start at $160, according to Asman Airlines. Lake Issyk-Kul, one of Central Asia’s most popular summer destinations, attracts visitors from across the region with its mountain scenery, beaches, and resort infrastructure. The new route is expected to strengthen tourism ties between the neighboring countries by reducing travel time and improving direct access to the lake. Uzbekistan remains Kyrgyzstan’s largest source of international visitors, accounting for more than 40% of all inbound foreign tourists each year. Visa-free travel, close geographic proximity, and relatively affordable holiday costs have made Kyrgyzstan a popular destination for Uzbek travelers. The launch of the new route reflects broader efforts by Central Asian countries to improve regional connectivity and capitalize on growing cross-border tourism as travel demand continues to recover.

China

Kyrgyzstan and China to Launch Direct Flight Between Osh and Kashgar

A new air route connecting Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, with Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is expected to launch in April, according to a statement from Airports of Kyrgyzstan JSC. The announcement follows a meeting held on January 30 with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The new flight is intended to enhance transport connectivity between the two neighboring countries, deepen bilateral trade and economic ties, and promote tourism and cultural exchange. The route is expected to be operated by Chengdu Airlines, a COMAC-affiliated carrier, using COMAC’s C919 aircraft, China’s first domestically developed short-to-medium-range turbofan jet, which can accommodate up to 97 passengers. Osh already has an existing air link to Xinjiang. In November 2025, China Southern Airlines resumed flights between Osh and Urumqi, the region's capital. Xinjiang serves as a strategic gateway to China for Kyrgyzstan, and Kashgar is the departure point for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, an ambitious regional infrastructure project aimed at connecting China with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The 523-kilometer railway will run from Kashgar to Andijan, Uzbekistan, passing through Kyrgyzstan via Torugart, Makmal, and Jalal-Abad. Construction on the CKU railway officially began on December 27, 2024, in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region. New transport links by air and rail are expected to further boost trade between Kyrgyzstan and China. According to Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Liu Jiangping, bilateral trade reached a record $27.2 billion in 2025, up 20% from the previous year.

Air Transport

New Flight to Link Almaty and Kyrgyzstan’s Karakol Ski Resort

As the winter tourism season approaches, Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned Asman Airlines has announced the launch of a new regular flight connecting Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, with the Kyrgyz town of Karakol, home to the country’s most popular ski resort. The Karakol-Almaty-Karakol route is set to begin operations on December 5, with flights scheduled every Friday and Sunday. The flight time is approximately 35 minutes. Asman Airlines will operate the Dash 8 Q400, a Canadian-made short-haul turboprop aircraft that can carry up to 80 passengers and has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. Karakol is the highest ski resort in Central Asia, located at an altitude of 3,040 meters in the Tien Shan Mountains. The resort offers panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and nearby Lake Issyk-Kul. Situated just 7 kilometers from Karakol and 400 kilometers from Bishkek, it features ski trails suitable for both professional athletes and beginners. The ski season runs from December to March. The new air route is expected to significantly improve access to Karakol for weekend travelers from Kazakhstan’s commercial capital. In a related development, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have further enhanced air connectivity with the launch of a direct flight linking their capitals, Astana and Bishkek. On November 10, Kazakhstan’s Vietjet Qazaqstan operated its inaugural flight on the Astana-Bishkek route. The service runs twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Officials anticipate that the new flights will promote tourism, business, and cultural exchange between the two neighboring countries.

Air Silk Road

Kyrgyzstan and China to Launch New Air Route as Part of Air Silk Road

Kyrgyzstan’s State Civil Aviation Agency has reached an agreement with China’s aviation authorities to open a new air route to Kashgar, located in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This will become the second direct air link between Central Asia and western China. According to the agency, the route will form part of the broader Air Silk Road initiative, an economic air corridor designed to facilitate freight and passenger connectivity between China and Europe. The new link is expected to significantly improve logistics, enhance flight safety, and create fresh opportunities for both cargo and passenger transportation across the region. The planned route is also anticipated to deepen Kyrgyzstan’s trade and economic relations with China, stimulate tourism, and further integrate the country into the international aviation network. The Air Silk Road, launched in 2014, is a component of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative. Initially focused on air freight, the corridor now connects more than 100 cities in over 20 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.