Summary Air Astana and Japan Airlines partnership enhances Kazakhstan-Japan connectivity for travelers and cargo movement. CEO Peter Foster highlights the strategic expansion of Air Astana's network and the seamless travel experience for passengers. The codeshare agreement will introduce a new route from Almaty to Tokyo, strengthening ties between Japan and Kazakhstan.
Sometimes, a new airline partnership makes such good sense that you wonder why it is not already happening. Yesterday, that feeling returned when Air Astana and Japan Airlines announced a codeshare agreement allowing both airlines to place their respective codes on a new Kazakhstan-to-Japan service and domestic flights. This makes sense Air Astana powered ahead during the pandemic, and Central Asia was one of the first in the world to surpass pre-COVID capacity levels.
The Kazakstan-based carrier, now listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, has strategically expanded its network, as CEO Peter Foster remarked yesterday: "Our collaboration with Japan Airlines is an exciting development that will enrich our international network and offer more travel options for our customers. We look forward to delivering a seamless travel experience for passengers between Kazakhstan and Japan." The announcement revealed that Air Astana is launching a new route from Almaty to Tokyo in the Spring of 2026, which is the catalyst for the codeshare partnership.
The deal includes Air Astana routes from Almaty to Tokyo and Almaty to Astana and Atyrau, while the codeshared Japan Airlines routes are from Tokyo to Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa. Air Astana and Japan Airlines (JAL) said that details about routes and schedules are subject to change during the integration of both airlines' scheduling and ticketing systems. The agreement with JAL greatly enhances connectivity between Kazakhstan and Japan for leisure and business travelers, as well as fostering greater movement of people and goods between the two countries.
A time for growth In 2022, Japan and Kazakhstan marked the 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations, something noted by JAL Group CEO Mitsuko Tottori yesterday: "We are delighted to cooperate with such a distinguished partner as Air Astana. We will contribute to further enhancement of over 30 years of diplomatic relationship between Japan and Kazakhstan through developing passenger and cargo traffic." In March, Japan Airlines had a fleet of 227 aircraft and together with other JAL Group and partner airlines, it offers an extensive network of 384 destinations across 66 countries/regions.
The new codeshare agreement was formally signed by (l-r) JAL VP of Industry Relations & Strategy Atsuyuki Agawa and Air Astana Group CEO Peter Foster. The Air Astana Group, which includes low-cost carrier FlyArystan , provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Middle East, India and Europe. In August, the Group added its 56th aircraft, with two more arriving by year's end as it edges towards its aim of operating 80 aircraft by the end of 2028.
Air Astana has co-financed a comprehensive study into developing sustainable aviation fuel production in Kazakhstan. The most recently delivered new airplane was an Airbus A320neo configured in a two-class layout of 148 seats, including 16 business class and 132 economy seats. That delivery marked the 50th Airbus aircraft in the Air Astana Group fleet, and the induction of new A320neos is helping to mitigate the durability issues with the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines that have grounded aircraft.
Within the Group total, FlyArystan has an all-Airbus fleet of 23 aircraft, including 13 A320-200s and ten new-generation A320neos. Air Astana has 33 aircraft under its banner, including nine A320neos, 16 A321neos , two A321-200s, three Boeing 767-300s and three Embraer E190-E2 regional jets, with a remarkable fleet average age of just five years..
