More flights, more demand: Air Astana expands China network

Air Astana is stepping up its China expansion, increasing flight capacity and adding routes as demand from business, leisure and student travel continues to rise between China and Kazakhstan.

According to Yicai (China's financial media conglomerate), the airline plans to raise flight frequency on its Shanghai–Almaty route, with chief executive Ibrahim Canliel citing stronger bilateral ties and growing passenger volumes. The move follows the launch of the Shanghai route, which has taken the carrier’s weekly flights between the two countries to 32.

Demand growth drives network expansion

Shanghai is now Air Astana’s sixth destination in China, alongside Beijing, Urumqi, Guangzhou, Sanya and Yining. The airline is set to deepen its presence further, with new routes from Astana to Hangzhou and Guangzhou scheduled for June, and additional flights planned this summer from Almaty and Astana to Beijing, as well as from Almaty to Urumqi, Yicai reported.

Canliel said the airline has seen a sharp acceleration in both business and leisure travel demand, though current capacity still meets only a fraction of the potential passenger and trade flows.

The growth is underpinned by expanding economic ties. Air Astana carried more than 250,000 passengers between China and Kazakhstan last year, nearly doubling year-on-year, according to Yicai. The CEO noted that China accounts for roughly one-third of Kazakhstan’s imports, while about 90% of Kazakhstan’s exports are directed towards China.

Policy support and regional shifts boost travel

Travel demand has also been supported by the mutual visa exemption policy introduced in 2023, which has made cross-border movement easier for tourists, students and business travellers.

The broader regional context points to a structural shift in aviation flows. Flights between China and Central Asia have surged beyond pre-pandemic levels, with services to Kazakhstan alone exceeding 700 last month—almost three times 2019 levels, Yicai reported.

At the same time, airlines are increasingly focusing on Belt and Road markets across Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, which now account for more than 70% of China’s international passenger routes, industry insiders told Yicai. This comes as capacity to Europe and the United States remains constrained by air rights limitations.

Expansion signals long-term growth bet

Air Astana’s expansion reflects a broader recalibration of global aviation networks towards emerging corridors driven by trade, education and regional mobility.

While demand is rising rapidly, the airline’s leadership indicated that current connectivity still falls short of market needs, suggesting further capacity additions are likely as bilateral ties deepen and travel flows continue to grow