Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, has inaugurated a new direct flight service from Almaty to Shanghai, marking a significant expansion of its network in China.

The service, which began at the end of March, operates three times a week and was celebrated with a press conference at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

This addition complements Air Astana’s existing services to cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya, Urumqi, and Yining, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to enhancing connectivity between Kazakhstan and China, a relationship initiated with its first Almaty-Beijing flight in December 2002.

With Shanghai now included, Air Astana offers up to 32 weekly flights connecting Kazakhstan to six cities in China, facilitating more travel options and supporting both direct and transit journeys across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, and Asia. In 2025, the airline transported over 250,000 passengers between Kazakhstan and China, a remarkable 96% increase from 2024.

Ibrahim Canliel, CEO of Air Astana Group, stated, “The launch of our Shanghai service is an important milestone in the development of our network and underscores the strengthening ties between Kazakhstan and China. Shanghai is a key global city, and this route will enhance connectivity not only between our two countries but also for passengers traveling onward throughout our network.”

Air Astana Group, the leading airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus, operates a fleet of 63 aircraft and has earned recognition from SkyTrax for its regional excellence. This new route is expected to strengthen the airline’s position as a prominent carrier within the area.