Air Astana Expands International Network
Air Astana Group is accelerating its international expansion in 2026, with transit passenger traffic increasing by 65% in the first quarter and new routes being launched across Asia and Europe.
According to the company’s press service, the number of international transit passengers traveling via Kazakhstan rose significantly compared with the same period last year, supported by network expansion and capacity adjustments. Since the beginning of 2026, total transit traffic has exceeded 137,000 passengers, including more than 48,000 international transit passengers.
The growth is linked to the airline’s strategy to reallocate capacity from the Middle East to high-demand routes across Asia and other destinations. Key destinations contributing to the increase include Seoul, Bangkok, Phuket, Phu Quoc, Male, Istanbul, Delhi, Tashkent, and Tbilisi.
As part of its expansion, Air Astana launched a new direct route from Almaty to Shanghai in 2026.
The airline also plans to introduce additional routes from Astana to Guangzhou, China; Larnaca, Cyprus; and Dalaman, Türkiye.
Photo credit: Air Astana
