The flight to Tokyo is scheduled to launch in the 4th quarter of 2026, and the flight to the U.S. in the 2nd quarter of 2027. It was stated by the Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev in response to Kazakh PM’s demand  during the government meeting, El.kz reports.

"New York, Tokyo, and other destinations we have been talking about launching new direct flights for a long time. However, there are no results yet. What measures are you taking?" Bektenov asked.

This is not the first time the issue has been raised at the government level. Discussions regarding direct service to Japan and the U.S. have been ongoing for several years, but specific dates had remained unconfirmed til recently.

According to Transport Minister the flight to Tokyo is scheduled to launch in the 4th quarter of 2026, and the flight to the U.S. in the 2nd quarter of 2027.

"Regarding Tokyo it will be this year, in the 4th quarter. As for the USA,  we will open flights next year, in the 2nd quarter," Sauranbayev replied.

Additionally, the Minister reported that flights are currently operated from Astana to 34 international destinations, with five more routes planned to be added by the end of the year.

Why this matters for passengers

Currently, traveling from Kazakhstan to Tokyo or New York is only possible with layovers via Dubai, Istanbul, Moscow, or Seoul. This adds between 4 to 10 hours to the total travel time and significantly increases the cost of the ticket.

Direct flights will reduce travel time and potentially lower prices by eliminating intermediate segments. For business travelers, students, and tourists, this represents a significant shift in the accessibility of these destinations.