Carrier’s chief signals state support would initially be needed to fulfil ambitions to launch routes.
Kazakhstan’s prime minister has instructed the country’s ministry of transport to work with Air Astana to open flights from Astana to New York and Tokyo by the end of this year.
Olzhas Bektenov also wants to see the Kazakh capital connected to several European cities in 2027, stating that these developments are strategically important for attracting investors and tourists.
Bektenov detailed the plans while chairing a government session on aviation sector development.
“Kazakhstan must become the leading aviation hub in the region,” he said.
“To achieve this goal, large-scale work is underway to modernise existing airport infrastructure and create favorable conditions for domestic and international airlines.”
The strategy requires accelerating the opening of new international routes to the USA and European Union, Bektenov’s office states, with fares that are competitive.
Air Astana’s new chief executive, Ibrahim Canliel, says the airline is continuing to assess opportunities to open regular US and Japanese services.
“However, implementation of such routes depends on a number of external factors, including sanctions-related restrictions, operational feasibility, technical support requirements, and overall market conditions,” he adds.
Canliel points out that the economics of operating US flights, in particular, are “significantly” affected by the closure of Russian airspace.
“Japan remains a promising market with strong long-term potential,” he says.
“At the same time, visa accessibility remains an important factor influencing demand, including the current visa refusal rate and limited visa application availability only in one city.”
Canliel also says that initial estimates indicate that the initial phase of operation for both US and Japanese routes “would require state support”.
Bektenov’s office says that, as part of its air transport measures, the government has established “more attractive” aviation fuel prices — intended to appeal to foreign airlines and encourage transit operations.
The prime minister also referred to implementing a project to create a national cargo airline, adding that the first cargo aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to Kazakhstan in October this year.
Bektenov is directing the ministry of transport to approve, by the end of this year, a master plan for development of civil aviation to 2050 — one which covers not only regional services, but also uncrewed aerial transport and the introduction of technologies for using alternative fuels.
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