Kazakhstan is preparing to significantly expand its global air connectivity, with plans to launch direct flights from its capital to two of the world’s biggest cities - Tokyo and New York.

Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev said that the new routes were announced during a government meeting in Astana as part of the country’s long-term aviation expansion strategy, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The Astana-Tokyo direct flight is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, while the Astana-New York route is planned for launch in the second quarter of 2027.

Currently, the Kazakh capital operates 34 international routes, but that number is set to grow rapidly as the country strengthens its position as a regional aviation hub.

Kazakhstan plans to open or resume 11 additional international routes this year, including connections to Ulaanbaatar, Guangzhou, Issyk-Kul, Larnaca and Kashgar.

Additional routes will link Almaty with destinations such as Tokyo, Izmir, Warsaw, and a multi-leg service connecting Hanoi-Almaty-Prague.

Further expansion includes the Kostanay-Tashkent route, strengthening regional connectivity across Central Asia.

By the end of 2026, Kazakh airlines are also expected to add six new aircraft to their fleets, supporting the growing international network.

The announcement comes as domestic carriers continue to expand operations, including increased flight frequency on the Astana-Urumqi route between August 21 and October 24, 2026, reflecting rising demand across key Asia corridors.