Air Astana and China Southern Launch Codeshare Amid Rising Travel Demand
Air Astana and China Southern Airlines have established a codeshare agreement as of July 29, 2025. This partnership strategically connects routes between Kazakhstan and China, enhancing travel options for passengers.
This collaboration includes Air Astana’s flights from Almaty (ALA) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Guangzhou (CAN), and Urumqi (URC), as well as from Astana (NQZ) to Beijing. In return, China Southern Airlines will provide reciprocal service on its routes connecting Almaty to Beijing Daxing (PKX), Guangzhou, Xian (XIY), and Urumqi, along with Astana to Guangzhou and Urumqi.
Both airlines often operate these direct services using narrowbody aircraft. China Southern Airlines employs the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families, while Air Astana utilizes the A321neo for its flights.
In a recent Executive Spotlight interview with AeroTime, Air Astana’s CEO discussed the significance of the Chinese market. Peter Foster emphasized that China plays a critical role in the airline’s strategy for ongoing international expansion.
Recent reports indicate that Kazakhstan welcomed approximately 655,000 Chinese tourists in 2024, marking a substantial increase of 78% compared to the previous year. This rise reflects China’s growing interest in Central Asia as a favorable tourist destination.
According to data from the Cirium SRS Analyzer, Air Astana and China Southern Airlines dominate the capacity offerings between China and Kazakhstan. Together, they account for over half of the available seats. However, several other airlines, including SCAT, FlyArystan (the low-cost arm of Air Astana), Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and Loong Air, also serve this expanding market.
What are your thoughts on this new partnership between Air Astana and China Southern Airlines?
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