The number of Air Astana flights between Kazakhstan and China is set to increase following agreements reached at the meeting of the China-Central Asia Aviation Co-operation group held in Xi’an, China between 18^th and 20^th June 2024.

Designated carriers from Kazakhstan received approval to operate up to 52 passenger flights per week during the current summer season, with the figure increasing and up to 62 flights per week starting from the 2025 summer season. In addition to existing destinations in China, Kazakh carriers are now additionally allowed to operate flights to Guangzhou, China’s third largest city and largest commercial hub. Designated airlines also received the right to operate an unlimited number of flights to the cities of Sanya, Haikou and Qionghai on Hainan Island using the fifth, sixth and seventh freedom rights.

Kazakhstan is among the few countries in the world, along with the United States and a number of European countries, whose carriers have rights to operate flights to China using fifth freedom rights. Kazakh airlines have also received permission to operate cargo flights to China without restrictions on quantity and direction.

Air Astana currently operates scheduled daily flights from Almaty to Beijing and from Astana to Beijing three times a week, as well as from Almaty to Urumqi in western China five times a week.