ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to expand international air connectivity with new and resumed passenger and cargo services linking the country with Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as airlines increase capacity on key routes. Turkish airline SunExpress plans to launch regular flights between Astana and Izmir with flights scheduled twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Boeing 737 aircraft, while increasing the frequency of its existing Almaty–Izmir service.
The plans were discussed during a Sept. 15 meeting between the Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee and representatives of SunExpress, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport. Meanwhile, Air Astana plans to resume regular flights between Kazakhstan and Dubai in October.
The Almaty–Dubai service is scheduled to restart on Oct. 1, followed by the Astana–Dubai route on Oct. 2. The airline plans to gradually increase frequencies during the month, with Almaty–Dubai flights rising from four to 12 per week and Astana–Dubai flights from three to 10 per week by the end of October.
The airline said the schedule could be adjusted depending on developments in the Middle East. The expansion also includes air cargo connectivity between Kazakhstan and the UAE. FlyDubai plans to launch weekly cargo flights on the Almaty–Dubai route from Oct. 2 using Boeing 737 aircraft.
The service will transport both import and export cargo between the two countries, according to Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee. The new cargo route is expected to provide additional logistics options for Kazakh businesses and support trade and economic ties between Kazakhstan and the UAE.
Kazakhstan’s Transport Ministry has identified the development of air cargo transportation as a priority for strengthening the country’s transport and logistics potential, increasing its transit attractiveness and supporting the development of aviation hubs.