# Central Asian and Turkish aviation expansion

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/central-asian-and-turkish-aviation-expansion
> Updated: 2026-09-10T11:18:16.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 3.

Aviation connectivity and flight frequencies are expanding across Central Asia and Turkey. Turkey and Kazakhstan have formalized cooperation through a memorandum of understanding signed in Istanbul by Kemal Yüksek, Director General of Civil Aviation, and Saltanat Tompiyeva of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee. This agreement expands passenger flight rights and allows for up to 38 scheduled cargo flights per week to strengthen trade and logistics. The pact also includes cooperation in aviation safety, security, training, and maintenance, with plans to develop connections from Ankara, Antalya, and Bodrum to major Kazakh cities.

Building on this bilateral momentum, Turkey’s newest airline, AJet, announced plans to launch direct services from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Almaty and Astana in January 2027. AJet also intends to increase frequencies from Ankara to both cities to support commercial and touristic activities.

Concurrently, regional carriers are adjusting international schedules. Turkmenistan Airlines is increasing services from Ashgabat to Istanbul (moving to daily operations), Kazan, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, and Milan, while reducing flights to Delhi. Air Astana is increasing frequencies from Almaty to Tbilisi, Bishkek, and Bangkok. Specifically, Bishkek services will become daily in late August, and Bangkok flights will increase to five weekly in September before becoming daily in November. Air Astana noted that flights to Dubai remain suspended until September 30 due to instability in the Persian Gulf region.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: AJet to launch direct flights from Istanbul to Kazakhstan

AJet will launch new direct flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen to Almaty and Astana in January 2027, expanding its presence in Central Asia.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ajet-to-launch-direct-flights-from-istanbul-to-kazakhstan

### 2026-08-19: Central Asian airlines expand international flight frequencies

Turkmenistan Airlines and Air Astana are expanding their international networks, increasing flight frequencies to cities including Istanbul, Kazan, Bangkok, and Bishkek.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/central-asian-airlines-expand-international-flight-frequencies

### 2026-08-15: Turkey and Kazakhstan expand aviation and cargo flight rights

Turkey and Kazakhstan have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand passenger flight rights and increase air cargo capacity to up to 38 weekly frequencies.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-and-kazakhstan-expand-aviation-and-cargo-flight-rights

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Cite as: Central Asian and Turkish aviation expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/central-asian-and-turkish-aviation-expansion