Air Astana opens first direct flights from Almaty and Astana to Larnaca, boosting Cyprus-Asia connectivity

Kazakhstan’s flag-carrier Air Astana has inaugurated twice-weekly services from both Almaty and Astana to Larnaca, giving Cyprus its first scheduled links to Central Asia. The inaugural Almaty flight landed on 11 June, greeted by a water-cannon salute and officials from Hermes Airports. The carrier will operate Airbus A321LR aircraft, offering 166 seats—including 16 in lie-flat business class—aimed at leisure travellers and Kazakhstan’s growing offshore-energy and maritime sectors, which maintain ties with Cypriot service firms. Combined with charter capacity from FLYONE, total Kazakhstan-Cyprus frequency rises to four flights per week this summer. Tourism authorities expect up to 20,000 Kazakh visitors in 2026, a welcome diversification after a sharp decline in Russian arrivals. For Cypriot exporters and multinationals headquartered in Limassol, the route provides a one-stop alternative to via-Istanbul connections when moving staff or equipment between the eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia. Hermes Airports said further Asian expansion is under discussion, hinting at interest from Uzbekistan Airways and IndiGo. Travel managers should monitor fare volatility, as introductory round-trip economy prices start at €399 but are likely to rise once seasonal demand peaks.



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