Astana, 9th April 2026:

Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, has launched a new direct service from Almaty to Shanghai from 9th April 2026 onwards. The opening of this new service to the Shanghai is a major step forward in the ongoing expansion of Air Astana’s network across the country.

The new Almaty to Shanghai route, launched in end of March, operates three times per week and compliments Air Astana’s existing network of services to Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya and Urumqui and Yining. The addition of Shanghai strengthens the airline’s long-term commitment to developing connectivity between Kazakhstan and China, which began with its first flight between Almaty and Beijing in December 2002.

With Shanghai now part of the network, the Air Astana Group offers up to 32 weekly services between Kazakhstan and six Chinese cities, providing passengers with increased travel options and supporting both point-to-point and transit flows across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe and Asia. In 2025, the Group carried more than 250,000 passengers between Kazakhstan and China, representing a 96% increase compared to 2024.

Commenting at the event, Ibrahim Canliel, Chief Executive Officer of Air Astana Group, said: “The launch of our Shanghai service is an important milestone in the development of our network and reflects the growing strength of ties between Kazakhstan and China. We see strong and accelerating demand across both business and leisure segments, supported by visa-free travel. Shanghai is a key global city, and this route, our sixth destination in China, will further enhance connectivity not only between our two countries, but also for passengers travelling onwards across our network.”