Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and codeshare partnerships
Air Astana expands network with new flights from Atyrau and Almaty
Air Astana has expanded its international network with several new routes and enhanced partnerships.
On May 27, 2025, the airline inaugurated direct flights from Atyrau to Tbilisi, operating three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This route strengthens connectivity between western Kazakhstan and Georgia and is expected to attract both leisure and business travellers.
On May 31, 2025, Air Astana launched a new service from Atyrau to Baku, Azerbaijan, also operating three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Additionally, on June 1, 2025, Air Astana commenced direct flights from Almaty to Frankfurt using Airbus A321LR aircraft, scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
This new route complements existing services from Astana and Uralsk to Frankfurt. Air Astana currently operates several international flights from western Kazakhstan, including Uralsk to Frankfurt, and Atyrau to Istanbul, Dubai, and Amsterdam.
The airline has also signed an updated codeshare agreement with Lufthansa for the Almaty-Frankfurt route, enhancing passenger connectivity through both airlines’ networks.
Air New Zealand restores jet service to Hamilton from Christchurch
Christchurch is set to strengthen its position as a national hub for business and leisure travel, with Air New Zealand introducing a new year-round domestic jet service between Christchurch and Hamilton from September 18, 2025.
Domestic jet flights will return to Hamilton for the first time in 25 years, with selected services operated by a 171-seat Airbus A320 running five times weekly.
The introduction of the A320 will increase capacity on the route by 14 per cent, adding 25,000 extra seats annually. The jet flights will complement existing ATR 72 turboprop services, providing passengers with more options, greater seat availability and faster travel between two of New Zealand’s key cities.
China Eastern Airlines launches Lanzhou-Kuala Lumpur flight
China Eastern Airlines has launched a new direct route connecting Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province in northwest China, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital. This inaugural service marks the first direct air link between Lanzhou and Malaysia and aims to enhance tourism and economic ties between the two countries.
The Lanzhou-Kuala Lumpur route will operate three times weekly using an Airbus A320 aircraft with 156 seats. It complements the existing daily Kunming-Kuala Lumpur flights and provides additional connections via Kunming, expanding access for travellers from key Chinese cities to Malaysia.
The inaugural flight was welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Samuel Lee Thai Hung, deputy director general of Tourism Malaysia, along with representatives from China Eastern Airlines, Malaysia Airports Holdings, Tourism Malaysia, and AeroDarat, the airline’s ground handling partner.
T’way Air connects Jeju and Kaohsiung with new direct route
South Korea’s low-cost carrier T’way Air has launched a new Jeju-Kaohsiung service, creating a direct link between Taiwan region’s south and South Korea’s island destination.
Since its inaugural flight on April 22, the service operates four times weekly using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This route marks T’way Air’s third direct connection between southern Taiwan region and South Korea, joining its Gimpo-Kaohsiung and Incheon-Kaohsiung services.
The airline’s broader Taiwan region-South Korea network also includes Gimpo-Songshan, Jeju-Taipei, Daegu-Taipei, and Incheon-Taichung routes.
