Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana has announced the launch of a new direct route between Almaty International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, set to begin at the end of March 2026, further strengthening air connectivity between Kazakhstan and China.

The service will operate three times a week using Airbus A321LR aircraft, The Caspian Post reports via the global leading aviation news outlet.

Flights from Almaty will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 19:10 (GMT+5), arriving in Shanghai at 04:25 the following day. Return flights are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, leaving Shanghai at 05:40 and landing in Almaty at 10:15 local time. The westbound flight time is approximately 6 hours and 15 minutes.

The addition of Shanghai expands Air Astana’s growing China network, which already includes services to Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya, and Urumqi. The airline has been operating flights to China for more than two decades, positioning itself as a key link between Central Asia and major Chinese hubs.

Air Astana will deploy the Airbus A321LR, the long-range version of Airbus’ single-aisle aircraft, which is well suited to the roughly 3,200-kilometer route between Almaty and Shanghai. The aircraft offers extended range and flexible cabin configurations, making it an efficient choice for medium- to long-haul routes that do not require widebody capacity.