ASTANA — Air Astana and China Southern Airlines signed a strategic partnership agreement on Oct. 30 to coordinate flight schedules, improve connections and expand travel options between Kazakhstan and China, building on their existing codeshare arrangement.
Air Astana Vice President for Partnerships and Alliances Richard Ledger (left) and China Southern Airlines representative Wang Zhen sign the strategic partnership agreement in Astana on Oct. 30. Photo credit: Air Astana
The agreement marks the first strategic partnership of its kind between airlines from the two countries, allowing closer commercial cooperation, including coordinated flight schedules and operating days, expanded codeshare services and joint marketing initiatives.
Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev addresses the signing ceremony in Astana on Oct. 30. Photo credit: Air Astana
Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev said flights between the two countries have increased by 52% compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 117 scheduled flights per week across 21 routes.
“Since the beginning of 2026, more than one million passengers have been transported. The ministry plans to further expand the route network with China to 30 destinations,” said Lastaev.
From overlapping flights to better connections
Air Astana Vice President for Partnerships and Alliances Richard Ledger explained that the two airlines already have a codeshare arrangement, but the new strategic partnership takes their cooperation further by allowing them to coordinate flight schedules and operating days, rather than simply sell seats on each other’s flights.
Air Astana Vice President for Partnerships and Alliances Richard Ledger. Photo credit: Nagima Abuova / The Astana Times
“With a strategic partnership like this, we can review the times at which flights go, and we can adjust each other’s schedules to create better connectivity. Because there is quite a degree of regulation on that, of which we need to get our approval from the antimonopoly to do this, which we did. And we are very pleased to have received that, to say that our proposed cooperation, as described in our agreement, is within the prescribed legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Ledger told The Astana Times.
He added that regulatory approval lets the carriers coordinate flight schedules and operating days to give passengers more convenient connections, something not possible under their previous codeshare arrangement.
Speaking to reporters, Ledger illustrated the agreement’s practical implications using flights between Almaty and Guangzhou.
Ledger cited the Almaty-Guangzhou route as an example, noting that Air Astana previously operated a Monday flight at 8:40 p.m., while China Southern departed at 9:15 p.m. Despite the two flights departing just 35 minutes apart, neither airline offered a flight the following day. The new arrangement allows the carriers to coordinate their schedules and distribute flights more evenly throughout the week.
“The joint venture will initially start on the routes that we both operate. This is Almaty to Guangzhou and Almaty to Urumqi. The framework of the agreement can be spread across other routes on the agreement between the parties and obviously with the approval of the regulatory authorities,” said Ledger.
He noted that the arrangement does not involve establishing a separate company but remains a commercial agreement between the two carriers.
Easier transfers and passenger benefits
Beyond scheduling, the partnership could simplify baggage transfers and introduce reciprocal frequent flyer benefits.
Ledger said passengers flying from Almaty through Guangzhou to Shanghai may currently need to collect and recheck their baggage during a connection. Closer cooperation could enable through-checking to the final destination, eliminating that additional procedure.
Guests and media representatives attend the Air Astana-China Southern Airlines strategic partnership signing ceremony in Astana. Photo credit: Air Astana
The airlines could also reach a separate agreement allowing passengers to earn and redeem frequent flyer points across both carriers, although this remains subject to further negotiations.
China Southern Airlines Executive Vice President Zeng Yongchao said the partnership would build on growing aviation links under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“For both airlines, this is a strategic choice that allows us to leverage each other’s strengths and share resources. For passengers, the most tangible result will be greater travel convenience, with more flight options, simpler transfer procedures and a more comfortable journey,” said Zeng.
Strengthening Kazakhstan’s transit role
Ledger said the partnership could strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a transit hub connecting China with Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe. Rather than focusing on immediate financial returns, he described the agreement as a way to improve passenger services while creating broader opportunities for transit traffic through Kazakhstan.
Representatives of Air Astana and China Southern Airlines at the strategic partnership agreement signing ceremony in Astana on Oct. 30. Photo credit: Nagima Abuova / The Astana Times
Air Astana currently operates flights from Astana and Almaty to Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, offering up to 36 scheduled round-trip flights per week during the peak season.
China Southern Airlines operates services from Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou and Xi’an to Astana and Almaty, with up to 29 scheduled round-trip flights weekly during peak periods.
