Istanbul is getting closer again. FlyArystan is resuming direct flights from Aktau to Türkiye’s largest city, while its international network from Mangystau will expand further with Yerevan later in the year, DKNews.kz reports.
The first Aktau–Istanbul flight is scheduled for October 22, 2026. From October 27, the service will operate regularly twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Two weekly flights will connect Aktau and Istanbul
On Tuesdays, the aircraft will depart Aktau at 08:40 and arrive in Istanbul at 10:35.
The return flight will leave Istanbul at 11:40 and arrive in Aktau at 17:05.
On Saturdays, the schedule will be slightly different: departure from Aktau at 08:35, with arrival in Istanbul at 10:30.
The return flight will depart Istanbul at 11:15 and arrive in Aktau at 16:40. All times are local.
For passengers from the Mangystau region, the restored direct route means they will once again be able to reach Istanbul without connecting through Almaty, Astana or a foreign transit airport.
FlyArystan will restore another international route in December
Istanbul will not be the only destination returning to FlyArystan’s schedule from Aktau.
From December 16, 2026, the airline also plans to resume direct Aktau–Yerevan–Aktau flights.
Services to the Armenian capital will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
As a result, passengers from Aktau will regain access to two international routes by the end of the year.
Aktau already has direct flights to five foreign cities
FlyArystan’s international network from Aktau currently includes Kutaisi, Baku, Dubai, Batumi and Urumqi.
With Istanbul and Yerevan returning, the list of direct international destinations will expand further.
For Aktau, this geography is particularly significant: passengers can travel directly to Türkiye, the Caucasus, the UAE and China without first flying through Kazakhstan’s largest aviation hubs.
That broadens the choice for both leisure travel and passengers flying abroad for family or business purposes.
Tickets to Istanbul are already on sale
Tickets for the resumed flights are already available on the official FlyArystan website and through the airline’s mobile app.
Passengers should also take the low-cost carrier’s baggage rules into account when booking. FlyArystan’s standard fare includes one piece of carry-on baggage weighing up to 7 kg.
The maximum dimensions are 56 × 23 × 36 cm.
Additional services and checked baggage are charged separately depending on the fare and options selected by the passenger.
Aktau strengthens its role as an international departure point
The return of Istanbul flights forms part of FlyArystan’s broader expansion of international services from western Kazakhstan.
For passengers, the most practical change is clear: from October 22, direct travel from Aktau to Istanbul will be available again, while from October 27 the route will move to a regular twice-weekly schedule.
Yerevan will join the network in December. That will bring FlyArystan’s direct international destinations from Aktau to seven cities: Istanbul, Yerevan, Kutaisi, Baku, Dubai, Batumi and Urumqi.
Passengers can check current fares and travel conditions directly on the FlyArystan website.
