On Oct. 2, Air Astana announced its route expansion plans for autumn covering popular destinations in the Middle East and Asia. These are a mix of resumed services and increased frequencies to the most sought-after destinations.
The Autumn schedule
Beginning in September, the autumn schedule has included restarted flights from Almaty and Shymkent to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The service is twice a week and once a week respectively.
Starting in late October, the flights to Medina from Almaty and Shymkent will resume twice weekly and once a week respectively. Flights from Astana to Jeddah and Medina will alternate every two weeks. New links to Aktau from Jeddah and Medina will initiate on an alternating biweekly schedule.
Passengers are required to check visa requirements on the official Saudi eVisa portal to enter Saudi Arabia. This is essential to make the journey convenient for Kazakh travellers. The route expansion opens opportunities for business, leisure trips and religious pilgrimages.
Popular hubs
Air Astana is also extending its reach to visa-free destinations. Starting in late October, the airline will operate from Almaty to Malé in the Maldives, three times a week. The frequency will eventually transition to five flights a week during busy holiday season such as New Year’s and Nauryz.
Extending services to Asia, the flight will operate from Almaty–Phu Quoc, Vietnam, five times per week, slowly transitioning to daily flights in December. Another flight will be introduced to Phu-Quoc for three times a week.
In the Middle East, services between Almaty and Dubai will rise, totalling up to 12 flights a week from late October. While the same from Astana will total up to ten a week. Apart from the Middle East and Asia, Air Astana will also boost services to Southeast Asia, with Almaty–Bangkok flights rising from four to seven per week, and the Almaty–Phuket route also expanding from four to seven weekly flights.
Airbus A320neo and A321LR aircraft will be utilised for all new and resumed flights.
What do you think about Air Astana’s route expansion to the Middle East and Asia? Let us know in the comments below.
