Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Airport adopts open skies, boosting connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, fostering competition, and modernizing air travel.

Atyrau International Airport, situated in northwestern Kazakhstan, has introduced an open skies regime to enhance flight connectivity and foster airline competition. The policy change was confirmed by Kairat Nurtaev, Deputy Akim (mayor) of the Atyrau Region.

This progressive initiative removes restrictions on the frequency of flights operated by foreign airlines to and from Atyrau. It is designed to stimulate the growth of both international and domestic air traffic, paving the way for direct connections between Atyrau and major destinations in Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Authorities believe this will increase competition among carriers, potentially reducing airfares for travelers.

Currently, the airport supports 89 domestic flights on seven routes and 21 international flights across six routes weekly. Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flagship airline, dominates these services, offering connections to global hubs like Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Dubai. FlyArystan, its budget subsidiary, also serves destinations such as Kutaisi and Sharm El-Sheikh. Russia’s Aeroflot is the sole foreign carrier operating scheduled flights, providing services from Moscow.

As part of ongoing modernization efforts, the regional administration has partnered with QazAir Investments, a Qatari investor, to manage the airport. Plans include constructing a 16,500-square-meter terminal, slated to begin in 2025-2026. Once completed, the new terminal will handle up to 6 million passengers annually, a substantial upgrade from the current capacity of 1.2 to 1.3 million passengers.

Atyrau International Airport is now the 16th airport in Kazakhstan to adopt the open skies policy, joining other locations that have embraced this framework in recent years. Nearby Uralsk Airport also received open skies status in late 2024, highlighting the country’s commitment to bolstering its aviation sector.

The post Kazakhstan Unlocks Boundless Travel Opportunities With Open Skies Program At Atyrau Airport Connecting Western Europe, The Middle East, And Asia appeared first on Travel And Tour World.