Air Astana first entered the Indian market in September 2004, operating flights to Delhi
Marking two decades of air connectivity between Kazakhstan and India, Kazak airline Air Astana celebrated the occasion with the launch of its newest route, a thrice-weekly service between Almaty and Mumbai.
The new flight connects Kazakhstan’s cultural capital with India’s bustling financial hub, offering business and leisure travellers more options than ever before.
Speaking at a reception in Mumbai on Thursday to mark the occasion, Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana Group, said the move comes at a pivotal time.
Peter Foster
“With the Indian economy growing strongly, Air Astana is delighted to launch services to Mumbai, a vibrant and flourishing metropolis driven by trade, finance and enterprise,” he said.
“Mumbai is the financial capital of the country with the largest population in the world and one of the fastest-growing economies of any of the world’s major economies. It is quite clear that it is of fundamental importance that Air Astana establishes links with this vital and hugely important city,” he said.
Air Astana first entered the Indian market in September 2004, operating flights to Delhi, and has since carried over 1.2 million passengers between the two countries. The airline currently operates nine weekly services between Almaty and Delhi, with plans to increase frequencies during peak seasons.
“We have strong ambitions for India, it is front and centre of our strategic development plan. That is the reason we are all here in force, because we want to make it absolutely clear that India is fundamental to our present and to our future,” Foster told India Outbound.
While highlighting Kazakhstan’s geographical positioning, he also added:
“Central Asia and Kazakhstan in particular is strategically well placed. We have China to our eastern border, Russia to the north, though currently not accessible for flights, and to the south, our immediate neighbour is India. That proximity matters. India is not just important; it is essential,” he said.
Also read: Air Astana to launch new Almaty-Mumbai route on April 20
To appeal to Indian travellers, Foster also drew a parallel between Almaty and Europe, highlighting similarities with Geneva to showcase the Kazakh city’s charm.
“Almaty’s climate is very similar to Geneva’s, we are on virtually the same latitude, the 43rd parallel. We even have mountains to the south of the city like Geneva does,” he said.
Zhanna Shayakhmetova, Vice President Marketing and Sales at Air Astana, underscored Almaty’s weather as a major draw for Indian tourists.
Zhanna Shayakhmetova
“Almaty’s weather is especially appealing when Mumbai gets extremely hot. It is still warm, but much more pleasant. The autumn and spring seasons are beautiful, and even winter is mild, making it a great destination all year round. Whether you are travelling solo or with a group, there is plenty to discover,” she said.
Also read: Air Astana adds services to Asia & Middle East for winter
In his address, Foster also highlighted Air Astana’s growing cooperation with Indian carriers, particularly Air India.
“We have signed a priority agreement with Air India, which is now feeding our flights over Delhi, and soon, Mumbai as well. We enjoy working with privately owned commercial airlines, and we are excited to develop that partnership further.” he said.
There was a strong sense that this new route between two cities, is a step toward a deeper, strategic bond between Kazakhstan and India. With more Indian travellers seeking offbeat and experiential destinations, and with Air Astana’s expanding network and vision, the future of this partnership looks more promising than ever.
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