Air Astana, Kazakhstan's national carrier, has enhanced its connectivity to the Middle East by entering a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways. The partnership, effective November 26, aims to meet the increasing passenger demand for travel to the region.
Under the new arrangement, Air Astana passengers will gain access to Etihad Airways' extensive network, which includes destinations such as Mumbai, Riyadh, Dammam, Bahrain, Cairo, Doha, Kuwait City, and Muscat. These connections will be facilitated via Abu Dhabi, leveraging Air Astana’s direct flights from Astana and Almaty, with the latter commencing operations on December 5, 2024.
Passenger traffic from Kazakhstan to Middle Eastern countries surged by 25% from January to September, reflecting the region's growing appeal. In response, Air Astana has not only bolstered its flights to Abu Dhabi but also introduced a direct route between Atyrau and Dubai. Additionally, the airline has increased the frequency of its flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai.
“We are excited to partner with Etihad Airways, offering our passengers enhanced travel options and convenient access to a broader network,” said Zhanna Shayakhmetova, Air Astana’s Vice President of Marketing & Sales.
This collaboration marks a significant addition to Air Astana’s codeshare portfolio, which already includes partnerships with airlines such as Asiana Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines.
On November 6, it was reported that Air Astana adjusted its capacity, shifting focus from European routes to more lucrative Asian destinations. This move, implemented in the third quarter of 2024, came in response to the airline's overall revenue growth.
For the first nine months of the year, Air Astana saw a 10% y/y increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), largely fueled by rising demand on Asian routes. In contrast, traffic on European routes, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Montenegro, declined by 12%.
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