Freedom Finance Global conducted a market research on air travel in the Republic of Kazakhstan : analyzing the entities and activities of passenger air transport participants, as well as surveying more than 3,000 citizens aged 18 to 55 from all cities with a population of over 50,000, reports a correspondent from the business information center Kapital.kz, citing the company's data.
It was found that airplanes are used more frequently for tourism and leisure purposes compared to other modes of transport: 49% and 57.7%, respectively. More than half of the respondents indicated that they are willing to spend a maximum of 15,000 tenge (52.7%) for domestic flights, almost every fourth person – between 15,001 and 20,000 tenge (23.4%), and every tenth – between 20,001 and 30,000 tenge (12.6%). The share of those who are willing to pay more than 30,000 tenge was 11.2%.
The majority of respondents are ready to spend between 50,001 and 100,000 tenge for international flights (28.4%). Every fourth respondent considers a ticket price of 100,001–250,000 tenge to be reasonable (26.1%). The proportion of those willing to pay over 250,000 tenge for a trip was 16.7%.
Most Kazakhstani citizens fly to CIS countries (54.5%) and the Middle East (42.2%). The share of those visiting Asian and Southeast Asian countries was 16.8%. The least frequent destination for respondents was the European Union (10.4%). In the CIS, the most visited country is Russia (41.5%), in the Middle East – Turkey (32.6%), in Southeast Asia – Thailand (6.4%) and China (5.8%), and in Europe – Germany (4%). The share of those who mentioned other countries was 2.9%, with Ukraine, the USA, Switzerland, and the Maldives being the most frequently mentioned. The top 5 destinations for flights include Russia (41.5%), Turkey (32.6%), the UAE (12.2%), Uzbekistan (9.8%), and Egypt (8%).
22.3% of respondents encounter problems and difficulties during air travel. 70% of study participants reported no problems or difficulties, while 7.7% of Kazakhstani citizens found it hard to answer this question. The top three issues faced by respondents during air travel include delays and cancellations (60.4%), long queues at check-in and security checks (53.8%), and high prices for services and goods at airports (43.9%).
The share of those who have used Air Astana services at least once was 71.2%: for international flights – 45%, for domestic flights – 43.5%. The top three airlines used at least once for both domestic and international flights also included the Kazakhstani companies FlyArystan and Scat. Among foreign carriers, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot lead.
One of the main reasons respondents avoid using airline services is poor reputation. Clients frequently complained about frequent delays and cancellations, hidden fees and additional charges, as well as the lack of certain routes.
The top three paid additional services provided by airlines most frequently used by respondents include baggage services (paid/additional/oversized; 54.4%), seat selection at check-in (37.7%), and meals (paid/additional; 23.8%). Passengers most often expressed a need for transfers to and from the airport (16.3%), expedited pre-flight and passport control (Fast Track; 16.3%), and priority/expedited check-in services (14.2%).
The most popular platforms for purchasing airline tickets are Kaspi Travel (71.9%), Aviata (43.8%), and Aviasales (42.5%). The most popular travel agencies for buying airline tickets are ht.kz (27.6%), Kaztur (23.9%), and "Let's Go Together" (18.2%). In the "Other" category, the most frequently mentioned were Fun Sun, Transavia, Sun Travel, Palmatour, "Rose of Winds," and "Grand Tour."
For an absolute majority of respondents, the most important condition for air travel is a reduction in ticket prices (64%). Better access to remote regions is important for 23.9% of respondents.
Over 60% of participants in the study agree with the statement that airplane tickets are unreasonably expensive (30% – fully agree, 30.4% – somewhat agree). The second most supported statement is that frequent delays and cancellations hinder travel planning (59.5% agree to some extent). Third is the notion that regional airports are outdated and have low service quality (52.4%).
“The development of aviation faces a number of problems that affect customer satisfaction. The high cost of tickets remains the primary reason why many Kazakhs refuse to fly. This confirms the need for the implementation of subsidies and low-cost models. Additionally, passengers face flight delays, long lines at check-in, and high prices for services at airports, which reduces the overall level of trust in airlines,” noted analyst Ansar Abuev from Freedom Finance Global.