Air Astana Strengthens Kazakhstan’s Role in Europe–Asia Transit Traffic

Air Astana is seeking to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a transit hub between Europe and Asia amid changing traffic flows driven by geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

The Kazakh flag carrier stated that developments in the Gulf region have redirected air traffic northward, increasing transit passenger demand through Kazakhstan.

Air Astana Group CEO Ibrahim Canliel said capacity freed up from the Middle East has been rapidly redeployed to markets showing stronger demand. According to Canliel, a significant portion of that capacity has been allocated to Southeast Asia, particularly China and South Korea.

The airline has shifted capacity to routes including Bangkok, Malé, Phu Quoc, and Phuket, while also increasing frequencies on services to London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Guangzhou, Seoul, Urumqi, and Delhi.

Air Astana Group reported a 65 percent increase in international transit passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2026. In March alone, transit traffic growth reached 158 percent.

The airline is also continuing its expansion in the Chinese market, launching three weekly non-stop flights between Almaty and Shanghai using Airbus A321LR aircraft.