Kazakhstan will have 8 new international flights in 2012

Air Astana and SCAT air companies will launch 8 new international routes by the end of 2012, Tengrinews.kz reports citing press-service of Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport and Communications. The companies will open the flights Almaty-Hong Kong, Astana-Ulan-Baatar, Almaty-Ho Chi Minh, Astana-Beijing, Astana-Kazan, Astana-Tashkent, Astana-Baku and Almaty-Kazan. Earlier Kazakhstan President instructed the transport authorities to set up direct flights to all the major destinations within the 7-hour flight range. The flights Almaty-Tbilissi, Almaty-Samara, Shymkent-Istanbul and Astana-Omsk opened in 2011. “Opening of each new international route involves diligent work of Kazakhstan aviation authorities in creation of the legal base. This March Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport and Communications signed the memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong and negotiated with aviation authorities of Mongolia. The meetings with aviation authorities of China, India, Jordan and Georgia are planned in the nearest time,” the Ministry’s press-service writes.