Air Astana JSC has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with China Southern Airlines aimed at strengthening air links between Kazakhstan and China, broadening customer travel options, and improving connection flexibility.
What core business areas are covered under the strategic agreement?
Under the agreement, the two airlines will coordinate flight schedules, expand codeshare cooperation, and pursue joint marketing initiatives. The partnership seeks to align route networks and commercial models to offer uniform carriage conditions, smooth connections, and seamless access to destination networks across both airlines.
What are the existing flight operations and route volumes of both airlines?
Air Astana operates flights from Astana and Almaty to Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, offering up to 36 round-trip flights per week during peak season. China Southern Airlines operates up to 29 round-trip flights weekly from Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Xi'an to Almaty and Astana during peak periods.
What official aviation performance indicators and plans were reported?
Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev noted that flight frequencies between Kazakhstan and China increased by 52% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 117 regular weekly flights across 21 routes. More than 1 million passengers have been transported since the start of 2026, with plans to expand the bilateral network to 30 destinations.
FAQ
Which specific airlines are participating in the strategic partnership?
Kazakhstan's Air Astana Group (including its low-cost carrier FlyArystan) and China Southern Airlines.
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Does the partnership cover only direct point-to-point flights?
No, it is not limited to direct flights between both countries; it is also planned to cover domestic routes within each nation as well as transit connections to third countries via hub airports in Kazakhstan and China.
What is the fleet size of each airline involved?
Air Astana Group operates an aircraft fleet of 64 planes, while China Southern Airlines operates a passenger and cargo fleet of 973 aircraft as of mid-2026.
Related reading
- More industry and policy updates: Kazakhstan investment and project news
- Setting up a project company: Company registration in Kazakhstan
Sources
- Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (kase.kz), 2 November 2026: https://kase.kz/ru/information/news/show/1579297