FlyArystan has announced a new international route connecting Almaty and Chongqing, further expanding its presence in the Chinese market, DKNews.kz reports.
The inaugural flight is scheduled for September 23, 2026, making Chongqing the airline's fifth destination in China alongside Urumqi, Yining (Ghulja) and Xi'an.
Flights to operate twice a week
The new route will be served twice weekly.
The flight schedule includes:
- Departures from Almaty on Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Return flights from Chongqing on Thursdays and Sundays
The journey will take approximately five hours.
FlyArystan expands its China network
FlyArystan President and CEO Johan Eidhagen said the new destination reflects the airline's strategy of expanding international connections in line with growing passenger demand.
«The launch of flights to Chongqing reflects our commitment to steadily expanding FlyArystan's international network in response to the growing demand for travel between Kazakhstan and China. We take a careful approach to selecting new destinations: they must meet passenger demand, align with the capabilities of our fleet, and demonstrate strong long-term potential. Chongqing meets all of these criteria. As one of China's largest metropolitan areas, Chongqing has not previously had direct air connectivity with Kazakhstan. Thanks to the recent agreements reached between the aviation authorities of our two countries, launching this route has become possible. We are proud that FlyArystan will be the first Kazakh airline to introduce direct flights on this route».
A gateway to southwestern China
Chongqing is one of China's largest metropolitan areas and a major tourist destination known for its dramatic urban landscape and modern engineering.
Among the city's best-known attractions are:
- Liziba Monorail Station, where trains pass through a residential building
- Multi-level city architecture built into mountainous terrain
- Easy access to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, famous for its towering quartz sandstone pillars that are widely associated with the landscapes featured in the Avatar films
The new route is expected to improve travel opportunities for both tourists and business travellers while strengthening air connectivity between Kazakhstan and China.
Tickets already on sale
One-way fares under the Standard fare begin at KZT 96,000.
Passengers can book tickets through:
- The official FlyArystan website
- The FlyArystan mobile application
- Other authorized sales channels
Ticket prices may vary depending on exchange rate fluctuations.
Why it matters
China remains one of Kazakhstan's key economic and tourism partners. The launch of direct flights to Chongqing expands travel options for passengers, supports business exchanges and tourism, and strengthens transport links between the two countries. It also marks the first direct air connection between Kazakhstan and one of China's largest metropolitan areas.
