Air Astana to launch direct Almaty–Tokyo flights with A321LR

Image: Air Astana

Air Astana has announced the launch of nonstop scheduled services between Almaty and Tokyo. Flights will begin on 30 November, after an eight-month delay, and will operate to Narita International Airport twice weekly with Airbus A321LR narrowbody aircraft.

The flight time to Tokyo will be 7 hours 30 minutes, while the return flight to Almaty will take 9 hours 25 minutes. Kazakhstan’s flag carrier’s A321LRs are equipped with additional fuel tanks, enabling the aircraft to serve the Japan’s capital.

The route may later be upgauged to Boeing 787-9 widebody, with delivery expected by year-end.

The Almaty–Tokyo–Almaty service will be operated jointly with Japan Airlines (JAL) under a codeshare agreement signed in August 2024. The partnership allows JAL to place its code on the Almaty-Tokyo service, as well as domestic services in Kazakhstan from Almaty to Astana and Atyrau. In turn, Air Astana will place its code on JAL-operated flights from Tokyo to Fukuoka, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka and Sapporo.

“The launch of direct air services to Japan is a key priority and supports our ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan’s leadership as the hub of Central Asia and and the Caucasus,” said Ibrahim Canliel, Chief Executive Officer of Air Astana Group.

Tokyo will become Air Astana’s 22nd new route in 2026. The airline believes the new service will provide “a significant boost to trade, economic and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Japan.”