CIS airlines launch new routes to Kazakhstan

Airlines from across the CIS continue to launch new routes to Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy.

On December 18, Belarusian national carrier Belavia resumed direct scheduled flights between Minsk (MSQ) and Almaty (ALA) after a nearly four-year hiatus, following a suspension in May 2022 by the Kazakh authorities. The service will operate twice weekly using Boeing 737-800 narrowbody jets.

Belarus and Kazakhstan are already connected by air, with flights between their capitals, Minsk and Astana, operated by both Belavia and Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines.

Meanwhile, starting March 30, 2026, Uzbekistan’s flag carrier Uzbekistan Airways will launch non-stop scheduled flights from Tashkent (TAS) to Atyrau (GUW). Flights between the Uzbek capital and the city in northwestern Kazakhstan will be operated twice weekly on Airbus A320 aircraft.

From April 3, 2026, Russia’s largest private airline, S7 Airlines, intends to serve the Novosibirsk (OVB) – Karaganda (KGF) route. Weekly flights from the Siberian hub to Sary-Arka Airport will be operated by Embraer 170 regional jets. S7 also operates flights from Novosibirsk to Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, located near Karaganda. Consequently, the airline will connect Novosibirsk with the republic’s two largest neighboring cities five times a week.

Russian reginal carrier Azimut Airlines has announced plans to connect Sochi (AER) with Atyrau via a new twice-weekly route beginning June 2, 2026. Flights will be operated with the Superjet 100.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines to launch three new routes to Uzbekistan.