More flights will connect the two countries. Kazakhstan and Türkiye have increased the number of permitted passenger flights on key and tourist routes from 120 to 224 per week, an increase of 104 flights, or nearly 87%, DKNews.kz reports.
The agreement was reached following negotiations between the aviation authorities of the two countries held in Istanbul on August 13–14, 2026. The Kazakh delegation was headed by Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chair of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, while the Turkish delegation was led by Professor Dr. Kemal Yüksek, Director General of Türkiye’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
On August 14, the parties signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on civil aviation.
Up to 138 weekly flights allowed on key routes
The biggest expansion concerns routes connecting major cities in the two countries.
The number of permitted flights for airlines of both sides has been increased from 76 to 138 per week on the following routes:
- Istanbul – Astana;
- Istanbul – Almaty;
- Istanbul – Shymkent;
- Ankara – Astana;
- Ankara – Almaty.
The new limit represents an increase of 62 weekly flights, or approximately 82%.
The agreement concerns permitted flight frequencies. It gives airlines more room to expand their schedules but does not mean that all 138 flights will be launched immediately.
Antalya and Bodrum frequencies nearly double
The increase is even more pronounced on tourist routes.
The number of permitted flights from Antalya and Bodrum to cities in Kazakhstan has been raised from 44 to 86 per week.
That is almost a twofold increase.
Türkiye’s resort destinations are one of the key segments of air traffic between the two countries. Additional frequencies therefore give carriers greater flexibility to expand seasonal flight programs.
The route network is also widening. We previously reported on the launch of the direct Almaty–Izmir route, which gave Kazakh passengers direct access to Türkiye’s Aegean coast.
From 120 to 224 flights per week
When key and tourist routes are combined, the scale of the new agreement becomes clear:
- previously – 120 permitted flights per week;
- now – 224 flights.
The increase amounts to 104 weekly flights.
For passengers, the new framework creates room for more frequencies and more travel options. For airlines, it eases some of the regulatory restrictions on expanding services between Kazakhstan and Türkiye.
However, carriers will still decide how many of these additional frequencies to use based on demand, fleet availability and commercial considerations.
Up to 14 weekly flights allowed on other routes
The new agreement is not limited to Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Bodrum.
On all other routes, airlines from both countries will be allowed to operate up to 14 flights per week.
This creates a regulatory basis for new direct services between other cities in Kazakhstan and Türkiye if airlines see sufficient passenger demand.
The agreement can therefore expand not only the number of flights but also the geography of direct air links between the two countries.
Up to 76 cargo flights agreed
A separate part of the negotiations focused on cargo aviation.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye agreed to allow up to 76 cargo flights for both sides, with fifth-freedom traffic rights for services to third countries.
This gives the agreement significance beyond bilateral air connectivity.
Such rights can allow Kazakhstan and Türkiye to be used as points in wider international cargo routes continuing to third countries.
Cooperation will go beyond additional flights
The negotiations in Istanbul also covered several areas of civil aviation beyond flight frequencies.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in state regulation of air transport, flight safety and aviation security.
The agenda also included aircraft accident investigations, airport infrastructure development and the digitalization of the aviation sector.
For passengers, the most visible outcome is straightforward: Kazakhstan and Türkiye have increased the permitted number of weekly flights on key and tourist routes from 120 to 224.
The next question is how many of the 104 additional permitted frequencies airlines will ultimately turn into actual flights.
