As part of a working visit to the People's Republic of China, Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chairperman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a meeting with Mr. Chenchua Jin, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at China Eastern Airlines.

The main topic of the negotiations was the launch of direct air services on the Astana – Shanghai route. Airline representatives confirmed high commercial interest in this destination and announced their readiness to begin launching flights this autumn, following the completion of necessary preparatory measures. At the initial stage, flights will be operated three times a week, with subsequent frequency increases to daily service.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed prospects for further expanding the route network between Kazakhstan and China. The airline's management expressed interest in increasing the number of flights to Kazakhstan, as well as developing cooperation with Kazakhstani air carriers.

The opening of the new route will be another step in implementing agreements on the development of air communication between Kazakhstan and China. Direct air services between the hubs of business and political life of the two countries will contribute to the further growth of tourist, business, and investment ties, as well as the expansion of Kazakhstan's transit potential.

Background Information:

China Eastern Airlines is one of the three major state-owned airlines of China and the country's second-largest air carrier, headquartered in Shanghai.

The airline operates an active fleet of 834 aircraft. In 2025, it transported 150 million passengers and operates approximately 550 daily flights from Shanghai's two airports.