Air Astana and China Southern Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement on trunk routes between Kazakhstan and China in a strategic move aimed at improving connectivity between the two countries.
The agreement covers Air Astana routes operated from Almaty to Beijing Capital, Almaty to Urumqi and Almaty to Guangzhou, as well as Astana to Beijing.
For China Southern Airlines, the deal covers routes operated on a regular basis from Beijing Daxing to Almaty, Guangzhou to Almaty, Urumqi to Almaty and Xian to Almaty, together with Guangzhou to Astana and Urumqi to Astana.
Air Astana Group CEO Peter Foster said: “China has always been a strategically important market for Air Astana. Partnering with China Southern Airlines will boost trade, tourism and cultural links with China and open a new chapter in aviation cooperation between the two countries.”
China Southern Airlines President and CEO Han Wensheng said that the agreement “will result in an increase in our service frequencies to Kazakhstan”.
“It is not only a strategic move leveraging both airlines’ strengths but also a significant step in deepening Belt and Road aviation connectivity between China and Kazakhstan,” he said.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure development strategy aimed at enhancing connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation between China and over 150 countries.
China Southern Airlines President and CEO Han Wensheng (L) and Air Astana Group CEO Peter Foster sign the codeshare agreement.
