ALMATY: Air Astana JSC, the leading airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size, has signed a codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines to cooperate on trunk routes between Kazakhstan and China, providing travellers with more flight options.
The codeshare agreement, which was signed on 29 July 2025, 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 codeshare 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.
Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana Group, remarked, “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 stated, “Codeshare cooperation with Air Astana 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.”