Today, on the eve of Republic Day, a ceremony was held to mark the launch of a new international flight by Air Astana on the Astana – Salalah (Oman) route. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Flights are operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.
One of the important steps in developing air links between the two countries was the signing of an air service agreement between the governments of the two countries on 6 October this year, within the framework of a meeting between Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.
The ceremonial launch of the new flight was attended by Kazakhstan Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev, Air Astana Senior Vice President Yerbolat Baisalykov, as well as Deputy Chairmen of the Board of Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport Ruslan Pyshtanov and Yermek Kumispayev, and representatives of the Embassy of Oman in Kazakhstan.
The first flight carried 140 passengers, indicating full occupancy of the aircraft's seats.
A day earlier, on 23 October, the first flight from Almaty to the city of Salalah was operated, and its passenger seats were also fully occupied.
Currently, air service between Kazakhstan and Oman is also carried out by SalamAir on the Almaty – Muscat route.
Thus, the Kazakh air carrier has expanded its international route network by opening two new destinations to the Sultanate of Oman.
The opening of the new air routes will contribute to the development of tourism, trade, economic and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Oman, as well as expand citizens' travel opportunities.