Kazakhstanis promised new international flights

Anelya Kupbayeva Correspondent

Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan plans to launch new international air routes this year. The announcement was made by Nurlan Sauranbayev.

Speaking at a government meeting on January 21, Sauranbayev said that in 2026 Kazakhstan intends to resume suspended routes and open new international destinations. While he did not name specific new routes, he outlined cities that Kazakhstanis will be able to fly to more frequently.

“It is also planned to increase flight frequencies on existing routes, including Vienna, Tokyo, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, Larnaca, Amman, Shanghai, Kashgar, Warsaw, and others,” Sauranbayev said.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the relevant agencies to submit concrete proposals within the week.

“I instruct the Ministry of Transport, together with the Samruk-Kazyna fund, to submit specific proposals within a week on launching new international flights and further developing the national cargo carrier,” the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, Chair of the Civil Aviation Committee Saltanat Tompiyeva reported that Kazakhstan’s airline fleet will be expanded by nine new aircraft by the end of the year, bringing the total number to 118 planes.

According to Tompiyeva, new international routes to Central Asia, CIS countries, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia will be launched by the end of 2026. Planned destinations include Xi’an, Urumqi, and other cities.

She also noted that construction of second runways will begin this year at Astana and Shymkent airports. In addition, the domestic terminal in Almaty will be reconstructed, and major apron repairs are planned at Aktau Airport.

Regional infrastructure projects are also underway, including:

construction of a new terminal in Atyrau;
reconstruction of the Pavlodar airfield;
completion of airports in the resort areas of Katon-Karagay, Zaisan, and Kenderli;
restoration of Arkalyk Airport.