The new route, by Air Astana, which began operations at the end of March, runs three times a week and adds Shanghai as the airline’s sixth destination in China, alongside Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya, Urumqi and Yining. The move strengthens connectivity between Kazakhstan and one of Asia’s largest aviation markets.
With the addition of Shanghai, the airline group now operates up to 32 weekly flights between Kazakhstan and China. Passenger traffic between the two countries has grown strongly, with more than 250,000 travellers carried in 2025, up 96% year-on-year.
The expansion reflects rising demand for both business and leisure travel, supported by visa-free arrangements, as the airline looks to position itself as a key connector between Central Asia, Europe and Asia.