ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s FlyArystan has launched direct flights between Astana and Yining on Oct. 26, becoming the largest foreign airline operating in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Kazinform reported. An Airbus A320 operated flight FS 7989, which departed Astana International Airport at 7:55 a.m.
The flight took two hours and 25 minutes. Upon arrival in Yining, the aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute. Regular direct flights on the new route operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. FlyArystan President Johan Eidhagen said demand for direct flights to Xinjiang was growing among business travelers, trading companies and tourists discovering the region.
“Today, the Kazakh airline has become the largest foreign carrier in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, and we are proud of this,” he said, adding that the airline intends to expand its presence in the region and open new routes. FlyArystan operates four direct routes between Kazakhstan and Xinjiang, connecting Almaty, Astana and Aktau with Urumqi and Yining.
The new route comes as Kazakhstan continues to expand its international air connectivity. Air Astana plans to launch seasonal direct flights between Almaty and Malaysia’s Langkawi on Dec. 25, as well as flights between Astana and Bangkok on Dec. 11. Both routes are expected to strengthen tourism and business links.
Kazakhstan is also preparing for a possible direct route between Astana and New York in 2027. The launch will depend on the completion of a U.S. aviation safety assessment, the readiness of Air Astana’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and the required training hours for flight crews and technical staff.