Monday, September 16, 2024 Air Astana Group is driving the rapid recovery of Central Asia’s aviation sector, quickly surpassing pre-pandemic capacities. The Kazakhstan-based airline continues to strengthen its position through the introduction of new Airbus A321neo aircraft, significant investments in pilot and cabin crew training, and an expanding network of routes. In a recent announcement, Air Astana revealed the launch of twice-weekly services from Kazakhstan to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Starting October 26, 2024, flights will begin from Atyrau International Airport (GUW) to Dubai. On October 30, new services from Astana to Abu Dhabi will commence, followed by Almaty to Abu Dhabi flights on December 12, 2024. These routes enhance the airline’s winter schedule to the Middle East, adding to the 20 existing weekly services from Almaty and Astana to Dubai, and six weekly flights from Almaty and Shymkent to Saudi Arabia.
Passengers now have the option to fly into one Emirate and return from the other, offering greater flexibility in travel plans. The new routes will be operated using Airbus A321neo and A321LR aircraft. The Atyrau to Dubai flight, a four-hour journey, will operate on Mondays and Saturdays.
The service from Astana to Abu Dhabi is set for Wednesdays and Saturdays, while Almaty to Abu Dhabi flights will run on Thursdays and Sundays. Round-trip economy tickets from Atyrau to Dubai start at $396, while those from Almaty and Astana to Abu Dhabi are priced at $375. For a premium experience, business class tickets are available from $1,236 for Atyrau to Dubai, and $1,535 for Almaty and Astana to Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, Kazakhstan citizens benefit from a 30-day visa-free entry to the UAE, making these new services even more attractive. Air Astana’s current fleet of 32 aircraft, including nine Airbus A320neos, two A321-200s, 16 A321neos, three Boeing 767-300s, and two Embraer E190-E2 regional jets, supports its growing route network. Its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan, complements this expansion with a fleet of 22 aircraft, including 12 A320-200s and 10 A320neos.
Further extending its reach, Air Astana recently announced direct scheduled flights from Shymkent to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, beginning on October 1, 2024. The airline will operate twice-weekly flights until October 28, after which one service will transition to a once-weekly flight between Shymkent and Medina. A new twice-weekly flight from Almaty to Medina will launch on October 29, 2024, adding to the current Almaty to Jeddah route.
All Saudi Arabian routes will be serviced by Airbus A321LR aircraft, featuring a two-class configuration with 16 business class and 150 economy seats. Through these new routes and ongoing fleet expansion, Air Astana Group continues to play a pivotal role in connecting Central Asia with the Middle East, showcasing its commitment to growth and excellence in the aviation industry..
