Air Astana and JAL Announce Codeshare and New Almaty-Tokyo Route

Air Astana has announced a new codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL) as it prepares to launch a direct route between Almaty and Tokyo in spring 2026. This new service will be the only nonstop flight connecting Kazakhstan and Japan. Schedule details will be released at a later date.

Under the codeshare deal, JAL will add its code to the Almaty-Tokyo flights, as well as domestic services within Kazakhstan from Almaty to Astana and Atyrau. Conversely, Air Astana will place its code on JAL flights from Tokyo to Fukuoka, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo.

This partnership marks Japan Airlines’ first entry into Central Asia, expanding its network into a region where it previously had no presence. JAL CEO Mitsuko Tottori emphasized the agreement’s role in strengthening the 30-year diplomatic ties between Japan and Kazakhstan by boosting passenger and cargo traffic.

Previously, SCAT Airlines operated flights between Kazakhstan and Japan, with service between Astana and Tokyo Narita Airport running up to twice a week from July 2019 to March 2020. However, nonstop flights between the two countries have been suspended since the pandemic began.

Sabre Market Intelligence data shows that Kazakhstan-Japan traffic totaled 24,800 two-way passengers in 2023, up from 21,200 in 2019, with Almaty-Tokyo comprising 68% of this traffic.

Additionally, Air Astana plans to launch a new route to Saudi Arabia in September, connecting Shymkent to Jeddah twice a week with Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline already operates flights from Almaty to Jeddah.

Kazakh carrier SCAT is also expanding its international network, with new service between Shymkent and Xi’an, China, set to begin on November 1.