Air Astana and China Southern Airlines have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening air links between Kazakhstan and China and improving travel options for passengers.
Those attending the signing ceremony included Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport, Talgat Lastayev; Air Astana Vice President for Partnerships and Alliances Richard Ledger; China Southern Airlines Executive Vice President Zeng Yongchao; and representatives of the aviation industry.
The agreement marks the first strategic partnership between airlines from the two countries. It builds on their existing codeshare cooperation and provides a basis for closer commercial ties.
The airlines will coordinate flight schedules, expand codeshare services and pursue joint marketing initiatives. The partnership is intended to make connections more convenient and broaden access to destinations in Kazakhstan, China and beyond.
Lastayev said flights between the countries had increased by 52% compared with the same period in 2025. More than one million passengers have been carried since the start of 2026. The Ministry of Transport plans to expand the route network with China to 30 destinations.
Air Astana flies from Astana and Almaty to Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, with up to 36 scheduled round trips a week during peak season. China Southern Airlines flies from Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou and Xi’an to Almaty and Astana, offering up to 29 weekly round trips during peak season.
The partnership is intended to support business, tourism, education and family travel between Kazakhstan and China, as well as strengthen transit options for passengers travelling through the two countries to other destinations.
