In 2025, low-cost carriers SpiceJet, Eastar Jet, T’way Air, and ThayAirAsia will start operating in the Kazakhstan market. This was announced by Transport Minister Marat Karabaev during a meeting, as reported by a correspondent from the Kapital.kz business information center citing the ministry's press service.
"The opening of 16 new routes is planned, including Rome, Munich, Budapest, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Busan. Budget routes for passengers will expand with the arrival of four new foreign low-cost carriers: SpiceJet (India), Eastar Jet and T’way Air (Korea), and ThayAirAsia (Thailand)," the ministry's statement indicated.
Marat Karabaev added that in 2023, Kazakh airlines transported 13.3 million people. In 2024, this figure increased by 11%, reaching 14.7 million passengers. A total of 29.7 million people were serviced at the airports, which is 14% more than in 2023 (26.1 million).
It was previously reported that Air Astana is expanding its route network to China with a new flight to Guangzhou, which will commence on March 30, 2025. Flights will operate three times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays—on the comfortable Airbus A321LR. Starting April 20, 2025, Air Astana will launch flights to India on the route from Almaty to Mumbai. During the spring-summer navigation period, Air Astana will replace flights to Phu Quoc with a new seasonal route to Nha Trang (Vietnam).