Kazakhstan and Turkey have agreed to significantly expand regular air services, increasing the weekly flight limit from 120 to 224, as reported by infohub.kz.
Under the new agreement, the number of permitted flights on major routes will rise from 76 to 138 per week. This applies to routes from Istanbul to Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, as well as from Ankara to Astana and Almaty.
"The number of permitted flights has been increased from 76 to 138 per week for airlines of both sides," the Civil Aviation Committee said in a statement.
Separately, opportunities for tourist flights have been expanded. On routes from Antalya and Bodrum to cities in Kazakhstan, the limit has been raised from 44 to 86 flights per week.
"The total number of permitted flights on the above routes has been increased from 120 to 224 per week," the committee's publication noted.
Additionally, airlines of both countries are now allowed to operate up to 14 flights per week on other routes.
The aviation authorities of Kazakhstan and Turkey held talks on August 13-14 in Istanbul. Following the talks, the parties signed a new Memorandum of Understanding in the field of civil aviation.
An agreement was also reached to operate up to 76 cargo flights using the fifth freedom of the air for transportation to third countries.