Direct flights between Astana and Shanghai could be launched as early as this fall, according to infohub.kz.
The main outcome of talks between Saltanat Tompieva, chair of the Civil Aviation Committee, and Jin Chenchu, senior vice president for marketing and sales at China Eastern Airlines, was confirmation of the Chinese carrier's interest in opening a new international route – Astana–Shanghai.
Representatives of China Eastern Airlines noted the high commercial potential of the route and stated their readiness to begin flights from this fall after completing all necessary preparatory procedures.
In the initial phase, flights are planned three times a week, with a subsequent increase to daily service.
During the meeting, the sides also discussed further development of air service between Kazakhstan and China, expansion of the route network, and prospects for increasing the number of flights.