Photo: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
A direct air route between Guangzhou and Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, was officially launched on June 3, with Air Astana flight KC8217 landing at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 04:19 Beijing Time.
The new route connects Guangzhou directly with Astana for the first time. It launched just over a year after Air Astana started flights between Guangzhou and Almaty, the largest city and economic hub of Kazakhstan.
The route operates twice a week, with flights on Wednesdays and Fridays, using Airbus A321LR aircraft. Flight KC8217 departs from Astana at 18:45 local time on Tuesdays and Thursdays, arriving in Guangzhou at 04:30 Beijing time the following day. The return flight, KC8218, leaves Guangzhou at 05:45 Beijing time on Wednesdays and Fridays and lands in Astana at 10:10 local time.
The launch of this route comes as air connectivity between China and Central Asia continues to strengthen. Over the past year, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has added direct flights to major destinations in Central Asia, including Almaty, Tashkent, and Astana, supporting the growing travel, trade, and business exchanges across the region.
Air Astana also plans to expand its presence in Guangzhou. The airline announced that from June 8, 2026, its Almaty-Guangzhou route will increase from four to five weekly flights.
In addition, according to official data, more than 90,000 travelers from the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) landed in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in the first five months of 2026, marking a year-on-year growth of 286.6%. Passengers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan rose by 258%, 351%, and 660%, respectively.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
