ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 19. Kazakhstan plans to launch direct flights from Astana to Tokyo and New York by the end of 2026, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during a government meeting, Trend reports via Kazakh government.
Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Transport and Air Astana to accelerate the expansion of the country’s international route network.
“The development of the aviation industry and expansion of international air connectivity are important conditions for the country’s further economic growth,” the prime minister said.
He noted that, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the number of air passengers worldwide is expected to exceed 12 billion annually by 2050, while the global commercial aircraft fleet is projected to double by 2034.
“Therefore, we need to integrate into the global aviation development chain and occupy our own niches. It is necessary to accelerate the launch of new international destinations, particularly to the European Union and the United States, with competitive ticket prices,” Bektenov stated.
He added that special attention should be paid to expanding international routes from Astana.
“I instruct the Ministry of Transport together with Air Astana to launch direct flights from our capital to Tokyo and New York by the end of this year, and in 2027 to European capitals including London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and other cities,” the prime minister said.
