Vietjet and Qazaq Air Launch Vietjet Qazaqstan
Vietjet and Qazaq Air have announced a new joint venture, Vietjet Qazaqstan, which will operate a fleet of at least 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to strengthen air connectivity between Kazakhstan, Vietnam and the broader Asian region. This strategic partnership will launch scheduled services from Astana and Almaty to destinations across Asia under the newly created airline brand.
The plans for Vietjet Qazaqstan follow Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, completing a deal to transfer a stake in Qazaq Air to a consortium that includes Aviation Holdings Group, a subsidiary of Sovico Group, Vietjet’s principal backer. Negotiations on the transaction first emerged almost a year ago, and the final investment has now secured government approvals.
“Expanding the regional route network will strengthen transport connections and create new points of economic growth,” said Samruk-Kazyna CEO Nurlan Zhakupov, highlighting the venture’s role in driving commerce and tourism. The announcement was made during a Kazakhstan–Vietnam Business Roundtable held in Nur Sultan, timed to coincide with a state visit by Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam.
Vietnam’s Finance Ministry issued a Foreign Investment Registration Certificate to Aviation Holdings Group, formally authorizing the acquisition of Qazaq Air shares. This regulatory milestone paves the way for the integration of assets, systems and expertise that will underpin Vietjet Qazaqstan’s launch and operations.
Vietjet described the joint venture as “a key milestone in our international expansion strategy, aimed at deepening bilateral ties between Vietnam and Kazakhstan across aviation, economic and cultural domains, while opening a new chapter for the aviation industry in Central Asia.” The airline said it will meet growing travel demand in Kazakhstan and boost cross-border tourism, trade and logistics throughout the region.
Vietjet Qazaqstan also aims to support local socio-economic growth by creating thousands of high-quality jobs in pilot training, aircraft maintenance and ground operations. To ensure seamless fleet performance, the airline and Boeing have signed a Customer Services General Terms Agreement covering software solutions, spare parts supply, technical assistance and comprehensive training for pilots and engineers.
Qazaq Air currently operates domestic routes from its base at Astana’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, as well as international services to Omsk and Novosibirsk in Russia and Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Its existing fleet comprises five De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops, which the new venture will complement with the modern 737 MAX jets.
According to aviation data from OAG Schedules Analyser, Vietjet does not now operate regular services to Kazakhstan but has previously served Almaty and Astana. At the Routes Asia 2025 conference in March, Vietjet’s Vice President for Commercial, Jay L. Lingeswara, said the airline is evaluating European destinations in the Czech Republic, France, Germany and the UK, with Kazakhstan cities being considered as potential transit hubs for one-stop connections.
The joint venture news coincided with Vietjet’s strong first-quarter financial results for 2025, with consolidated pre-tax profit rising 24 percent year-over-year to 836 billion Vietnamese dong, equivalent to $32 million. Revenue climbed 25 percent to 17.95 trillion dong, while passenger numbers reached 6.87 million on 38,700 flights, marking increases of 9 percent and 12 percent respectively. Vietjet expanded its network to 137 routes, including 97 international services, and grew its fleet to 106 aircraft.
Ancillary revenue accounted for more than 35 percent of total income in the first quarter. Building on its success in Central Asia, Vietjet has announced plans to launch new routes connecting Vietnam with China, India, Singapore and New Zealand later this year, further accelerating its regional growth momentum.
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