When Will Direct Flights from Kazakhstan to the US and Japan Be Launched?

The launch dates for the long-awaited direct flights to Tokyo and New York, which Kazakhstani citizens have anticipated for years, have been announced. Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev made a major announcement during a government meeting, revealing the exact timeline for the new international air routes.

According to the Minister, the first direct flight to the Land of the Rising Sun—specifically to Japan's capital, Tokyo—is scheduled to take off in the fourth quarter of this year (between October and December). Meanwhile, flights to the United States across the ocean have been slightly delayed.

"Direct flights to the US will be launched in the second quarter of next year, meaning between April and June," Sauranbayev stated.

As a reminder, direct flights to the US were previously planned to open at the end of 2025. However, delays in aircraft deliveries from global aviation giants Boeing and Airbus made significant adjustments to those plans. Nevertheless, the authorities have now locked in a definitive timeline.

The ministry does not plan to stop there. Currently, 34 international flights operate out of Astana, and five more international air routes are planned to open by the end of the year. This will open up great opportunities for Kazakhstanis to reach various destinations around the world quickly and comfortably without layovers.