The Open Skies regime operates at 15 Kazakh airports

ASTANA – The Open Skies regime is currently active at 15 airports in Kazakhstan in the cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Aktobe, Karaganda, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Kokshetau, Taras, Petropavl, Semey, Turkistan, Kostanay and Oral.

According to the press release of the Civil Aviation Committee on October 12, Transport Minister Marat Karabayev recently signed a document on the inclusion of Oral on this list.

This regime removes all restrictions on the number of flights and grants foreign airlines the fifth freedom of air travel. It allows foreign airlines to operate flights via Kazakh cities to destinations in third countries.

The inclusion of Oral is expected to attract new foreign airlines, boost competition between airlines, open international routes, reduce flight costs, promote tourism and improve transport connectivity to the city. In response to local requests, flight schedules in Oral have also been moved from night to day and evening hours.

Oral currently operates 32 weekly flights to five domestic destinations – Astana, Almaty, Turkistan, Atyrau and Aktau – as well as an international route to Frankfurt.