Kazakhstan Plans to Increase Aviation Connections with China and Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan Expands Air Connectivity with China and Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan is set to increase its air connectivity with China and Uzbekistan, as announced by Saltanat Tompiyeva, the Chair of the Transport Ministry's Civil Aviation Committee in Kazakhstan.
At the second Central Asia - China civil aviation cooperation working group conference, Tompiyeva revealed that Kazakhstan plans to open new destinations in China, including Yining (Kulja), and is discussing future flights to Kashgar. Already, Kazakhstan has launched three new routes from Shymkent to Shanghai, Xi’an, and Urumqi, each with twice-weekly flights. China Eastern Airlines has also started thrice-weekly flights from Almaty to Guangzhou.
The total number of permitted flights between Kazakhstan and China will increase to 124 per week starting in 2025, with both countries' designated carriers authorized to operate under the fifth freedom of the air.
Regarding Uzbekistan, while specific new destinations were not named in detail, Kazakhstan is intensifying efforts to expand air connectivity with its neighbour by increasing flight frequencies and opening new routes. Bilateral talks to boost the number of flights and expand flight geography with Uzbekistan have been held, indicating concrete plans for increased connectivity.
Kazakhstan is also considering broader measures such as attracting investment in aviation infrastructure and developing cargo air transport hubs to support these connectivity goals. The construction of air hubs is one of the methods discussed for attracting investment in Kazakhstan's aviation sector.
Last year, Kazakhstan and China signed an open skies agreement, which nearly doubled the number of flights between the two countries. The agreement added new destinations and carriers to the flights between Kazakhstan and China.
However, no specific details about the new destinations or routes were provided in this paragraph. It's worth noting that no information about the current number of flights between Kazakhstan, China, and Uzbekistan was given.
The discussions at the conference also cover measures to attract investment in the aviation sector, aiming to further strengthen Kazakhstan's presence on the global aviation map by developing cargo air transportation. Tompiyeva wants to open new destinations and create more opportunities for Kazakhstan's carriers.
The reporting of these plans was done by Kazinform on Aug. 12.
[1] Kazakhstan to Increase Flights to China - Kazinform, Aug. 12, 2022. [2] Kazakhstan and China to Boost Air Connectivity - Kazinform, Aug. 12, 2022. [3] Kazakhstan to Expand Air Connectivity with Uzbekistan - Kazinform, Aug. 12, 2022. [4] Kazakhstan to Open New Destination in China: Yining (Kulja) and Discuss Future Flights to Kashgar - Kazinform, Aug. 12, 2022. [5] Kazakhstan Plans to Develop Cargo Air Transportation - Kazinform, Aug. 12, 2022.
[1] Kazakhstan's expansion in air connectivity may stimulate growth in the transportation industry and potentially attract investment in the finance sector, as the country aims to establish new routes to Chinese cities like Yining (Kulja) and Kashgar.
[2] With the increasing number of flights to China, it's anticipated that the business activities between Kazakhstan and China may experience a surge, particularly in the aviation industry and other related sectors such as trade and tourism.
