Chinese airline launches direct flights between Kazakhstan, China

One of China’s largest airlines, Air China, has officially launched a direct route between Almaty, Kazakhstan’s southern capital, and Chengdu Tianfu, the administrative centre of Sichuan province.

According to the Almaty city administration, Airbus A320 aircraft will operate flight CA456 twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Caliber.Az reports per Kazakh media.

The administration noted that the flight from Chengdu to Almaty takes about 3.5 hours, saving at least seven hours compared to connecting flights, while the return journey lasts around five hours. 

Almaty is currently connected by direct flights to 60 cities worldwide, with 13 new routes opened in 2025.

By Jeyhun Aghazada