Azerbaijan Airlines Launches Baku–Shymkent Route as the carrier expands its presence in Kazakhstan with the addition of its fourth destination in the country. The new service between Baku and Shymkent is scheduled to commence on 16 June 2026, further strengthening connectivity between Azerbaijan and southern Kazakhstan.
Air Astana Group has unveiled a broad expansion of its Middle East and Asian route networks for the autumn 2025 season, underscoring its dual-brand strategy through Air Astana and its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan. The move combines new routes, resumed services, and frequency increases from multiple hubs across Kazakhstan.
SCAT Airlines, Kazakhstan’s second-largest carrier, is exploring expansion of its spare parts warehouse network into Southeast Asia as part of its long-term maintenance and logistics strategy. The airline’s Engineering and Aviation Service confirmed that potential sites under consideration include Cam Ranh, Vietnam, and Sanya, China, in addition to a new warehouse in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.
A tragic incident occurred involving an AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190, serial 19000630, which was diverted to Aktau and crash-landed with 67 people onboard. The accident resulted in 28 survivors, while the aircraft was completely destroyed. A criminal investigation has been launched to examine the presence of shrapnel damage, which is believed to have contributed to the incident.
