Kazakhstan and China are considering the creation of a joint regional airline, according to infohub.kz.
The new carrier could operate flights between Kazakh cities, including Zaysan, Katon-Karagay, and other destinations with tourism potential. The project was discussed at a meeting between Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev and Urumqi Airlines Vice President Zhang Liang.
The airline is expected to use Chinese-made COMAC C909 aircraft. Such aircraft are already part of Urumqi Airlines' fleet and could be used for regional flights within Kazakhstan.
During the talks, the Chinese side also outlined plans to launch new regular flights between the two countries. In particular, the opening of routes Urumqi–Karaganda, Kulja–Astana, and Kulja–Almaty was discussed.
The Kazakh side proposed to additionally consider flights to Oskemen and Semey. In the future, the route network could be expanded with new regional airports in Zaysan and Katon-Karagay.
The Ministry of Transport believes that launching such routes will improve transport accessibility in the regions, support domestic and inbound tourism, and strengthen trade and economic ties between Kazakhstan and China.
The parties also discussed the possibility of jointly using COMAC aircraft for flights between Kazakh regions. Specific timelines for launching the airline, the proposed ownership structure, and the volume of investment have not yet been disclosed.
Following the meeting, Kazakhstan and Urumqi Airlines confirmed their interest in further cooperation and the implementation of joint projects in civil aviation.
Urumqi Airlines was founded in 2014 and is based in Urumqi. The company is part of the HNA Aviation group and operates 20 Boeing 737-800 and COMAC C909 aircraft. In addition, the carrier has ordered 40 more C909 aircraft. Its route network includes 46 domestic destinations in China, mainly in the western and central regions of the country.