Russia, Kazakhstan to increase bilateral frequencies, designate more carriers

The move is in line with the effort to boost the common Eurasian Economic Union air services market (ATO.ru)

The aviation authorities of Russia and Kazakhstan have reached an agreement to increase the frequency of air services between the two countries. According to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, the agreement was struck following a round of correspondence between the parties.

In the summer season of 2018, the frequencies of operations between Astana and Almaty, on the Kazakh side, and St. Petersburg, on the Russian side, will be increased from seven to 10 weekly flights.

In the summer of 2019, the two countries will have the opportunity to further increase the frequencies to 14 flights per week, and to appoint their respective second designated carriers on the two routes (but only if the new arlines are not affiliated with the current designated operators).

Also in summer 2018, Russia and Kazakhstan will increase the number of flights between the two countries’ capital cities, Astana and Moscow, from nine to 12 per week.

The above-mentioned destinations are currently served by the two countries’ flag carriers, Aeroflot and Air Astana.

On other routes between Russia and Kazakhstan, frequencies are to be increased from seven to 10 flights per week, the document says.

The agreement is part of the drive to develop a common air services market within the Eurasian Economic Union, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. The initiative to boost frequencies between the two countries was first voiced by Russia.

According to the recent edition of ATO Yeabook, Kazakhstan last year ranked 11th on the list of countries served by Russian airlines in terms of passenger traffic, at 771,100.