Air Astana launches direct flights between Almaty, Shanghai

Air Astana is set to begin direct flights on the Almaty–Shanghai route, with the inaugural flight scheduled for March 29, 2026. Services will operate three times weekly from Almaty—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays—while return flights from Shanghai are planned for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Kazakh media reports.

“The flight departs Almaty at 19:10 and arrives in Shanghai at 04:25 local time the following day. The return flight departs at 05:40 and lands in Almaty at 10:15,” the airline stated.

Round-trip ticket prices start at 281,312 tenge ($647) for economy class, while business class fares begin at 921,132 tenge ($1,834).

With the launch of this route, the total number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and China will rise from 81 to 84.

Air Astana already operates services to Beijing, Guangzhou, Urumqi, and Sanya, strengthening Kazakhstan’s air connectivity with key Chinese cities.

By Vafa Guliyeva