Air Astana to launch direct Japan flights

Japan Airlines will codeshare on the new Almaty-Tokyo Narita service.

Air Astana has firmed up its plans to operate direct flights to Japan for the first time from the end of the year.

The Kazakh national carrier will operate twice-weekly flights between Almaty and Tokyo Narita from 30 November, deploying Airbus A321LRs on the route.

Air Astana previously stated that it intended to launch flights to Japan in early 2026, following the signing of a codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines.

It confirms that the newly-launched flights will also operate in codeshare, “building on the existing partnership between Air Astana and Japan Airlines”.

In 2024, the two carriers signed a codeshare agreement, which will see JAL place its code on Almaty-Tokyo flights, while Air Astana codeshares JAL’s domestic flights.

Air Astana chief Ibrahim Canliel adds: “The launch of direct air services to Japan is a key priority and supports our ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan’s leadership as the hub of Central Asia and Caucasus.”

Plans to operate to Japan go as far back as 2019, when the Kazakh government announced it would launch direct air links. Air Astana was to have launched flights in late-2019 with its Boeing 767s, but the pandemic later upended these plans.

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