At the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2026 in Marrakesh, Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chairperson of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee, discussed expanding air travel links with India. She emphasized that Kazakhstan's existing legal framework supports further development of bilateral air traffic and announced plans to increase flight frequencies and introduce new routes.
Currently, the national carrier, Air Astana, operates 13 weekly flights between Almaty and Delhi and three between Almaty and Mumbai. The authorities expressed confidence that efforts to strengthen aviation cooperation could positively impact trade and tourism.
Future cooperation and agreements
Following discussions, Kazakhstan and India reaffirmed their mutual interest in enhancing transportation links and agreed to hold bilateral talks with airlines to open new routes and increase flight frequencies. An existing agreement, signed in 1993 and ratified in 1998, allows up to 21 flights per week per side, supporting this expansion.
“Kazakhstan’s airlines are ready to expand flights, including new destinations, and increase the frequency of flights along the existing routes. I am confident that air traffic expansion will give a new impetus to trade-economic and tourism cooperation between our countries,” said Saltanat Tompiyeva.
These developments align with Kazakhstan’s recognition as one of the top 20 countries worldwide for aviation security, demonstrating its commitment to strengthening civil aviation ties with India and elsewhere.
