Kazakhstan and China explore launch of joint regional airline

Kazakhstan and China are exploring the launch of a joint regional airline operating Chinese-made COMAC C909 aircraft, Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) said after talks between transport officials and Urumqi Airlines executives.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Transport, Talgat Lastaev, and Urumqi Airlines Vice President Zhang Liang, where the two sides also reviewed plans to expand air connectivity between the two countries, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media.

During the meeting, the Chinese carrier announced plans to launch scheduled flights on the Urumqi–Karaganda, Yining (Kulja)–Astana and Yining (Kulja)–Almaty routes.

The Kazakh side proposed considering additional services to Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey, with the possibility of extending operations in the future to the new regional airports in Zaysan and Katon-Karagay, the committee said.

By Jeyhun Aghazada